Care of Elderly Must Come Before Profits

"Corporate rest home operators must put care before profits and agree to safe staffing levels," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.
Staff at Redwood Lodge Rest Home and Hospital in Rotorua are taking four days of strike action over the decision by their employer, NZ Lifecare Ltd, to refuse
to write in minimum staff/resident ratios into their collective agreement.

"Increasing aged care resident ratios since 2001, when NZ Lifecare Ltd purchased
Redwood Lodge, are putting the quality of care and safety of the elderly residents at risk," Ross Wilson said.

"The Council of Trade Unions is calling on all unions to support the NZ Nursing Organisation in its attempts to secure safer staffing levels.

"This dispute seems to be a case of a corporate putting profits before safe and quality standards of care," Ross Wilson said.