Stuff Digital Edition

Support workers under stress

Catherine Hubbard

Support worker Michael Corcoran works with people with mental disabilities, but because of his wages, he says it’s a job that he ‘‘couldn’t recommend’’.

‘‘It’s extremely, extremely hard. And it’s verging on a health and safety issue now people are working so many hours – I mean grossly in excess of what is normal or healthy,’’ he said.

‘‘I started the other morning at seven o’clock, and I finished at nine o’clock at night. Fourteen hours is too long to be doing our type of work, when you have to be constantly alert.’’

Corcoran was one of about 50 care and support workers and team leaders who picketed outside Nelson Hospital yesterday.

The entry-level pay for his job was $1.20 an hour above minimum wage, which was ‘‘not a reasonable return for your efforts, given what we do and how crucial it is what we do’’, he said.

He took the opportunity to give a shout-out to immigrants. ‘‘Without the migrant workers, this outfit would implode tomorrow,’’ he said.

‘‘They aren’t just necessary, they’re vital. Te Whatu Ora should be supporting them in their efforts for residency.’’

Because of staff shortages, burnout was ‘‘huge’’, and staff were suffering from ‘‘tiredness, headaches and exhaustion’’, Corcoran said.

Other staff at the picket told Stuff about having to do six sleepovers in

a row, and working three consecutive shifts when there was no-one to relieve them.

Public Service Association organiser Kate Davis said there were 230 PSA members in the top of the south who worked in 62 residential homes supporting people with disabilities. They worked with people with high and complex needs in houses that were staffed 24/7, and were employed by Live Life Disability Services, which is managed by Te Whatu Ora.

Davis said members voted against the employer’s offer last week, and had asked for a cost of living increase and extra payments for working weekends and overnight.

She said the offer was the ‘‘worst’’ she had ever been asked by

an employer to take to PSA members. ‘‘It’s a shameful offer, and they never should have asked us to vote on it.’’

They had been offered a lump sum payment of $400 this year, and $1500 next year, but members were asking for that amount together now, she said. ‘‘A one-off payment of $1900, that’s almost a $1 an hour, would bring them some way towards the cost of living.’’

A $400 one-off payment right now, she said, would work out at less than $300 in the hand for someone who worked 40 hours.

Davis said facilities were ‘‘desperately short-staffed’’ to the point that ‘‘people aren’t even getting to go on outings or to get to appointments.’’

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en-nz

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281599539523422

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