But that hope was drowned by the Government on May 6 when it cut the pay equity claims of thousands of workers – mainly women like Whakamarurangi.
Opposition MPs presented giant bank cheques stating “$20,644.45 – cancelled by the Government” to three care and support workers on Tuesday at Parliament. PSA analysis showed that was the amount owed to care and support workers for the pay equity claim the Government cancelled.
Whakamarurangi, a member of NZNO, was among the workers who received one of those cancelled cheques.
‘The pay increase would have allowed my whānau and I to start building on our whenua, but that’s not going to happen now.’
“I’ve been a care worker in aged care for 33 years and the pay increase would have allowed my whānau and I to start building on our whenua, but that’s not going to happen now.
“We have the land through my kuia, my dad’s mum, but we just don’t have enough capital,” Whakamarurangi said.
“That amount might not mean much to politicians who today got a real pay rise, but for me and other care workers, it would have been life changing.”
“My kids and mokopuna [grandchildren] know who they are and where they are from, but being on the land is healing for us, it would have been a good place to retire,” Whakamarurangi said.
‘Yes, care work is heart-warming but I’m not being dramatic when I say we face physical harm at work.’
NZNO member Lisa Marriner told the gathering at Parliament that she was a third-generation aged care worker.
“I’ve spoken with so many care workers, up and down the country, and our pay is simply too low even though we are qualified and experienced.
“Yes, care work is heart-warming but I’m not being dramatic when I say we face physical harm at work. We are seeing more people with cognitive decline,” Marriner said.
“Had our pay equity claim gone ahead, we would have seen more fair pay. So pay us what’s fair and write the cheque.”
PSA member and home care support worker Toni-Marie Gilsenan also received a cancelled cheque.
‘As a single mother raising three sons…I’m receiving this for all our grandmothers, mothers and daughters who do this mahi.’
“As a single mother raising three sons, as a care and support worker and a PSA member, I’m receiving this for all our grandmothers, mothers and daughters who do this mahi.”
E tū disability support worker Jo-Chanelle Pouwhare also received a cancelled cheque.
‘They [the Government] had a chance to invest in the women of this country.’
“They [the Government] had a chance to invest in the women of this country – the women who keep the wheels going around and around.”
“I thank the Labour, Greens and Māori parties for supporting us on this kaupapa. We will fight with you all and I think you would be a fabulous coalition.”
The event was hosted by Labour MP Jan Tinetti and Green MP Teanau Tuiono, following a request by PSA.