CYF staff on 24-hour strike over pay

More than 2000 Child, Youth and Family workers and 500 staff from rest homes and aged-care hospitals around the country walked off the job today in support of pay rise.

They staged pickets and rallies from 8am today that affected CYF centres from Invercargill to Kaitaia. The strike was to last 24-hours.

Public Services Association (PSA) spokesman Michael Gibbs told NZPA several hundred staff were expected at a lunchtime rally at Western Springs in Auckland.

Other rallies were to take place in Wellington, Christchurch and provincial centres.

PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said yesterday strikers objected to pay rates as well as the structure of the present performance-based pay system.

Union staff from more than 20 rest homes and geriatric hospitals nationwide also took strike action for six hours from 7am today, and plan a 24-hour strike for October 6.

CYF official Jo Mika-Thomas said contingency plans were in place in all centres to maintain essential services.

Affected centres had made plans to ensure residents and patients were looked after.