Public Service Association (PSA) members at ACC have voted to strike this Thursday, joining more than 100,000 other public sector workers set to walk off the job this week.
In a statement, the union said more than 1,200 workers from across ACC will strike from 6am to 8pm “after the failure of the Government to provide a meaningful offer and ongoing concerns over workplace culture”.
They join around 17,000 other PSA members who work directly in the health system – members of the Allied Health collective, mental health nurse, mental health assistants, IT specialists and many others.
“ACC staff are being disrespected, their voices are not being listened to, compounded by a pay offer that does not reflect cost of living pressures – they have had enough,” said PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons.
“Morale at ACC is at rock bottom – its leaders have not taken on board the damning findings in its culture review which showed that staff concerns were not being treated with respect.
“The latest decision to impose a new working from home rule of a minimum of three days in the office, without consultation or considering existing legal contracts smacks of the dysfunction at this critical organisation.
“These workers have the public right behind them as New Zealanders up and down the country know they are standing up for services they rely on.
“ACC workers play a vital role in the public health system -in their work on prevention, helping rehabilitate the injured and support thousands of New Zealanders every day to resume their normal lives, but like so many in the health system, this government does not value their critical work.
“ACC needs to do better – and that means agreeing meaningful pay rises for poorly paid predominantly female workers and urgently fix the deep-seated culture problems.
“Like many others, by taking this action, our ACC members are telling the Government loud and clear that its priorities are all wrong. New Zealanders expect a well-funded health system that meets their needs today and tomorrow and one that values health workers,” she said.
