0% won't pay the rent

More than 6000 service workers employed by District Health Boards (DHBs) and community support workers employed by IHC and Focus 2000 are on strike today to protest the Government's wage freeze.

Orderlies, food service workers, cleaners and security staff who are members of the Service and Food Workers Union will be striking between 11am and 3pm at all public hospitals nationwide, from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

Disability support workers will be on strike between 11.30am and 8.30pm.

Rallies are being held throughout the country at 27 venues from Kaitaia to Invercargill. The biggest will be in Auckland, including a march up Queen Street from the Britomart. Others will cross the Grafton Bridge, and march down Queen Street from Auckland Hospital.

Protesters will join up at the Methodist Mission opposite the Town Hall on Queen Street at 12.30, where they will be joined by other low paid public and community sector workers, including school support staff.

The workers will be addressed by the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Phil Goff, and workers' representatives.

In Wellington, protesters will march on Parliament.

SFWU National Secretary John Ryall says the strikes and rallies are not just about the employers' wage freezes but about a deliberate policy of expecting low-paid workers to shoulder the brunt of the economic recession.

"It's not fair. At a time when costs that affect low paid workers are rising out of all proportion - things like rent, electricity, transport costs - that's where all our members' money goes. There is nothing left at the end of the week. Figures released yesterday showed that nearly one in five renters spend more than 40% of their household income on rent. It's time to lift the freeze on the wages of the lowest paid. Zero percent won't pay the rent!", says John Ryall.

ENDS

For further comment contact

John Ryall, SFWU National Secretary on 027 520 1380

or

Jill Ovens, SFWU Northern Regional Secretary 027 446 4966

Notes to editors: For a full list of rally venues see: http://union.org.nz/liftthefreeze