The Wire with Caeden

Care and support workers are currently in the midst of a pay equity agreement, with all three major unions undertaking work to make sure workers are paid equitably. 

The workers, predominantly women, last received a pay rise in 2017, and their wages have simply not matched the cost of living. In some cases workers, who often use their own cars to drive to clients, have to stay beyond their paid hours just to make sure the people they are caring for receive the appropriate care. 

Te Whatu Ora has delayed the pay equity settlement, despite not being directly involved in the relationship between employees and employers. This has got some union members and representatives riled up. 

Following international Care And Support day, Arno spoke to the Public Service Association assistant secretary Melissa Woolley. Arno started our interview by asking what the PSA is and what it does. 

Next, Arno spoke to a Care And Support worker named Monique Behan-Kitto. They have unique insight into the struggles faced by workers and the struggle for pay equity. Arno started our interview by asking about Monique’s role as a care and support worker.

For  our weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti, Nicholas decided to ask  questions regarding the on-going conflict in Israel and Palestine.

On October 7th members of Hamas’ militant wing entered Israel and killed 1,400 iIsraelis and took 240 hostages.

Israel’s response has been swift, with the Associated Press recently reporting that nine thousand Palestinian have been killed in retaliation with Al Jazeera reporting over four thousand of those deaths being Palestinian children.

New Zealand has recently voted in favour of the ceasefire, and Nicholas' questions to Dr Reti were centred around his party’s response to the violence.

According to the coalition for the protection of racehorses, one Hundred and sixty eight horses have died on race days in Australia this year.

With today being the Melbourne Cup, members of the coalition for the protection of racehorses have planned their annual protest. 

Nicholas spoke to Aya Oba, a spokesperson for the group to discuss today’s protest and the condition of racehorses in New Zealand.

Nicholas began by asking Aya how the coalition was formed.

Bernard Sama is a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work, and has recently received Te Whainga i Te Tika Award for Social Justice for his advocacy work for refugees in Aotearoa. Upon receiving the award he has expressed a need for Aotearoa to do more to support refugees, particularly by increasing our intake of refugees fleeing humanitarian crises and conflict.

Rosetta had a kōrero with Bernard to discuss the future of refugees in Aotearoa under a new government. They also spoke about what New Zealand should be doing to better facilitate the evacuation of civilians from Gaza fleeing violence as a result of the Israeli Palestine conflict.