Gore healthcare workers to lead national wave of protest

Gore healthcare workers are leading a national wave of protest against Healthcare NZ’s plans to cut jobs and centralise services in Auckland.

Southland members of the Public Service Association (PSA) will be protesting the plan in Gore today – two weeks after their initial plans to do so.

PSA spokesman Alastair Reith said the group were the first to plan action against Healthcare NZ’s changes, but their plans were thwarted when a state of emergency was declared on the day of their proposed protest.

‘‘Southland have kicked this all off,’’ he said.

Reith said as many as a dozen jobs in Healthcare NZ’s Gore and Invercargill offices could be on the line.

The reaction from Southland healthcare workers inspired protests in other regions, with protests since throughout the country, Reith said.

‘‘It’s been going gangbusters since [Southland’s planned actions],’’ he said.

The protests have now been gaining momentum, Reith said.

Healthcare NZ is a private company funded by ACC, district health boards, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development to offer in-home and community support and services.

Its plan to streamline the company structure involves cutting 200 jobs and establishing a national call centre in Auckland.

Healthcare NZ spokesman David Miller said the company would not be doing interviews on the matter. In a statement emailed to the media, the company said a proposal had been put out for staff consultation and the deadline for feedback was February 20.