Union raises concerns over staff safety
A staffing review at Idea Services in Invercargill could put the safety of dozens of employees at risk, the union representing them says.
However, Idea Services has rejected the claim, saying its processes ensured the best practices were in place for its staff and the people it supported.
Idea Services, the support arm of IHC, provides support to people with intellectual disabilities.
E tu Southland union organiser Anna Huffstutler said it had 114 union members working for Idea Services in Invercargill in mainly residential and vocational services.
Idea Services was reviewing staffing levels at its 19 houses in Invercargill, with unionised employees at the company feeling anxious and uncertain about their futures, she said.
The company had given the staff proposed rosters to look at as part of the review, with the union believing the new rosters could result in increased hours of work for some staff and decreased hours for others.
Longer hours could cause health and safety issues for staff dealing with high needs clients who were sometimes volatile, Huffstutler said.
Redundancies were also a possible outcome for some staff as they were ‘‘effectively having to reapply for their jobs’’.
‘‘A lot of our members will be applying for contested positions.’’
An Idea Services spokeswoman said its process ensured the best practices were in place for staff and the people it supported.
The organisation changed its staffing and rostering to ensure the people it supported were getting the best support, she said.
Idea Services valued its staff and wanted to offer them as many hours as possible if they wanted it.
The review in Southland was ongoing and Idea Services was committed to working with the union, she said.
Some staff could expect to be offered increased work and some may be offered shifts in other houses if their current shifts were no longer needed.
‘‘We very rarely reduce people’s hours - in fact we are looking for more staff,’’ the spokeswoman said.
Huffstutler said the union had been frustrated by the process, ‘‘in terms of Idea Services supplying information’’.
‘‘This restructuring has caused a lot of stress and uncertainty for our membership in terms of ongoing income and days of work. The proposed rosters are very restrictive.’’
She was concerned Idea Services had publicly said it was looking for additional staff when it was in consultation with the union.
‘‘[We] want assurance there is a focus on retaining currently employed members hours of work,’’ she said.