The 1500 staff of New Zealand's largest rest home chain, Oceania, have announced a series of strike actions at the beginning of March in support of a cost of living claim.
The staff, who are members of the NZ Nurses Organisation and the Service and Food Workers Union, are nurses,health care assistants and support staff who provide direct resident care, laundry, cleaning and food services.
The Oceania group operates five lifestyle villages in Hawke's Bay: Atawhai Retirement Village and Rest Home in Taradale, Rahiri Rest Home and Village in Dannevirke, Duart Rest home in Havelock North and the Eversley Lifestyle Care and Village and Gracelands Lifestyle Care and Village in Hastings. If the action goes ahead it will start with a two-hour stoppage on March 1 and affect the Atawhai Resthome in Taradale and Rahiri Resthome in Dannevirke.
The other three sites are taking a softer "community action" approach talking to residents and family about the issues.
Alistair Duncan, of the Service and Food Workers Union, said although there were 59 facilities around the country, only 20 sites were chosen initially because they didn't want to put undue stress on the elderly residents.
The staff, who are members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and the Service and Food Workers Union want a 3.5 per cent pay rise. Oceania has offered 1 per cent.
Mr Duncan said the strike was the last resort and came after eight months of bargaining.
"As the largest rest home operator in the country, Oceania could be the leader in its standard of care for residents and staff, but it falls far short when it comes to caring for its workforce.
"By failing to offer care staff a reasonable cost of living increase, Oceania has attacked the carers who go out of their way every day to care for and support residents."
More than 3000 elderly people are under the care of Oceania nationally.
