Aotearoa New Zealand will witness historic events next Thursday when more than 100,000 essential workers take part in strikes around the country to call on the Coalition Government to properly fund their vital public services.
Essential public service workers including teachers, doctors, principals, nurses, allied health workers, home support workers, school support staff, policy, knowledge, advisory and specialist workers, Ministry of Education field staff and support workers will hold strikes on 23 October in the largest actions in decades. Meanwhile, firefighters are striking for one hour today.
The strikes by each workforce follow recent breakdowns in bargaining over their respective collective agreements. Events at more than 40 locations from Kaitaia to Invercargill have now been finalised.
NZEI Te Riu Roa teacher and negotiation team leader Liam Rutherford says everyone wants an education system that works for all tamariki and for the people who teach and support them.
"To have teachers, principals, support staff, as well as Ministry of Education support workers and field staff all striking, tells you how widespread the feeling is that change is needed in education," he says.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) spokesperson and Starship Hospital respiratory paediatric physician Dr Julian Vyas says the Government needs to realise how strongly public sector workers - from healthcare and other sectors - feel about the damage being done to services due to underfunding and lack of staffing.
"I think the New Zealand public will understand this strike action is about finding funding to provide the services that we all depend on and need to live healthy lives," he says.
NZNO enrolled nurse and bargaining team member Debbie Handisides says nurses, midwives and health care assistants are being asked to care for more and more patients who are increasingly unwell with fewer and fewer staff.
"Staffing shortages put the safety of our patients at risk. When there aren’t enough nurses, care is delayed and lives are put in danger. This is not a standard of care we trained for or that New Zealanders deserve," she says.
Public Service Assocation (PSA) president and digital service worker for Health NZ Virgil Iraia says he and his colleagues are striking for safe staffing and a fair pay offer which isn’t an effective pay cut.
"Overworked and undervalued health workers cannot keep delivering the care patients need and deserve," he says.
PPTA Te Wehengarua president and teacher Chris Abercrombie says when public education is properly valued and resourced, it can welcome all learners, and provide them with a responsive, safe school environment.
"The Government must properly resource public education to ensure there are trained and qualified teachers in every classroom, and students have the support they need to thrive," he says.
Firefighter and Tauranga Local Branch secretary for the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union Mike Swanson says firefighters are striking for safe staffing levels so fire stations, trucks and call centres can remain fully staffed.
"We also need the protection of safe systems of work to ensure that equipment, uniforms and vehicles are appropriate for the risks we face. And when the worst happens, and our job gives us cancer, we want our management to support us in our push for ACC," he says.
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Please find further comment available from essential workers from throughout Aotearoa. This webpage will continue to be updated with additional comment up until strike day.