IDEA ratification meetings

Proposed Settlement at IDEA after 11 months of Bargaining!

After 11 months of bargaining to renew the IDEA Services Support Worker and Admin Collective Agreement, we finally have a proposed settlement for members to vote on.

Its been a tough process involving multiple days of bargaining, eight mediation sessions, Facilitation with the employment authority, and a series of strikes and collective actions by union members to get to this point.

Claims and Counter Claims

E tū members wanted penal rates, recognition of SSW duties, and RIDAS workers among other things and IDEA wanted big changes to the service review process and a lot more flexibility around rosters and work locations and a three-year term.

The facilitator recommended the parties dropped these claims and agree to a short term sighting a lack of funding to the disability sector as a key barrier.

What’s in the deal?

  • Pay increases for Administrators and Service Coordinators with 5.5% backdated and a further 2% from October 23rd 2019.
  • Scheduling Coordinators being covered by the Collective agreement for the first time with a 2% increase from October 23rd 2019.
  • A new allowance of up to $70 per week for RIDSAS workers.
  • Specialist orientation for all staff working in RIDSAS
  • Specialist training and clinical supervision for RIDSAS staff within six months of the Agreement being ratified and regular updates to the Union.
  • A new on-call allowance of $150 (gross) which will increase if the SM payment increases.
  • A process to remove SSW duties from support workers, a 50 cents per hour allowance for designated SSWs until those duties are removed, and two buy-out payment based on an agreed criteria. These members will also be fast tracked through the Level 4 training, which provides for a pay increase of up to $2.50 per hour.
  • New scheduling clauses for unplanned situations including mileage and paid time, orientation and paid time to prepare in some cases, being updated on equipment and support needs, overtime if you are left with people you’re not orientated to support and a review process if you think these provisions are being misused. 
  • A two year term expiring in October 2020 – so we’re back in bargaining in a year.
  • An agreement to work together with IDEA to lobby for more funding to address issues in the sector.

What do the bargaining team delegates say about the deal?

The union bargaining team endorses the process and outcomes that have been achieved as being all that is possible in the current environment and look forward to working with all the parties to achieve a better funded sector.

What happens next?

You are being invited to two-hour paid ratification meetings between now and the 25th of October to go through all the details of the settlement and vote. Make sure you turn up and ask any questions you have and have your say!

What if the proposed settlement is rejected?

The bargaining team have gone as far as they can through negotiating and while the short strikes forced IDEA to remove some claims and won mediation and facilitation, members will be voting for a five-day strike as part of a vote to reject the deal. This is what it would take to get a better deal.

What happens if the deal is accepted by members?

If over 60% of members who attend ratification meetings accept the deal, it will be implemented including the new pay rates and allowances.

Any member who thinks they are a designated SSW or undertaking SSW duties under the agreed criteria will have until the 22nd of November to make an application to be part of the buy-out and a further four weeks to provide evidence to verify they qualify.

Delegates will be released on pay to meet with support workers and help them make their applications for this process and put together the evidence needed. This will probably happen at facility meetings after ratification so watch out for those. There will also be a template application form at the ratification meetings to make this easy for you.

The new scheduling changes will be explained in full at the meetings by area managers and union officials or delegates. These changes will not take effect for three months after the agreement is signed off. E tū will distribute flyers and info cards summarising your rights around these so you have the information readily available if you need it.

Joint lobbying for more funding – E tū and IDEA have agreed to join forces to lobby the Government for more disability sector funding. We will want you to be actively involved in this work as your voice and your stories will make a difference. The goal is to make sure any government elected in November 2020 prioritises the under-funding of disability services, so money is available when we bargaining again in a years’ time.

It is up to you decide! Make sure you have your say by attending a PAID ratification meeting in your area and voting on the deal.

Please check out the list of meetings below and see you there!

Region/City/TownDateTimeVenue
Northland – Whangarei for members in Whangarei , Dargaville and Kaiwaka17-Oct8.30am – 10.30am11 Cook St Vocational Day Base, Whangarei
Northland – Whangarei for members in Whangarei , Dargaville and Kaiwaka17-Oct11am – 1pm11 Cook St Vocational Day Base, Whangarei
Northland – Whangarei for members in Whangarei , Dargaville and Kaiwaka17-Oct2.30pm – 4.30 pm11 Cook St Vocational Day Base, Whangarei
Kaitaia – for members in Kaitaia 21-Oct2pm – 4pm6 Te Reinga St, Kaitaia
Kaitaia – for members in Kaitaia 21-Oct4pm – 6pm6 Te Reinga St, Kaitaia
Auckland Counties15-Oct9.30am – 11.30amGuide Hall, Ray Small Dr, Papakura, Auckland
Auckland Counties15-Oct1.30pm – 3.30pmIdea Counties Area Office, 6 Roulston St, Pukekohe, Auckland
Auckland West/Central16-Oct9.30am – 11.30am3047 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland
Auckland West/Central16-Oct12pm – 2pm3047 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland
Auckland West/Central16-Oct4pm – 6pm43 Veronica St, New Lynn, Auckland
Auckland Rodney17-Oct9.30am – 11.30am170 Lakeside Drive, Orewa, Auckland
Auckland Rodney17-Oct1.30pm – 3.30pm170 Lakeside Drive, Orewa, Auckland
Auckland RIDSAS18-Oct10.30am – 12.30pmStudio at 115/117 West Harbour Drive, Massey, Auckland
Auckland RIDSAS18-Oct1pm – 3pmStudio at 115/117 West Harbour Drive, Massey, Auckland
Auckland North Shore22-Oct9.30am – 11.30amKingswood, 13 Fraser Ave, Northcote, Auckland
Auckland North Shore22-Oct1.30pm – 3.30pmKingswood, 13 Fraser Ave, Northcote, Auckland
Auckland South East25-Oct10am – 12pm68 Dawson Rd, East Tamaki, Auckland
Auckland South East25-Oct1pm – 3pm68 Dawson Rd, East Tamaki, Auckland
Hamilton24-Oct10am – 12pmTrade Union Centre, 34 Harewood St, Hamilton
Hamilton24-Oct1pm – 3pmTrade Union Centre, 34 Harewood St, Hamilton
Hamilton24-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmTrade Union Centre, 34 Harewood St, Hamilton
Raglan24-Oct10am – 12pm5 Nihinihi Ave, Raglan
Huntly24-Oct3pm – 5pmMain Road Café, Huntly
Morrinsville24-OctTBCTBC
Matamata24-OctTBCTBC
Cambridge/Ohaupo24-OctTBCTBC
Otorohanga/Te Kuiti/Te Awamutu24-OctTBCTBC
Taumarunui21-Oct3pmDay Base, 33 Turaki St
Whakatane15-Oct10am – 12pm61a Alexander Avenue, Whakatane
Whakatane15-Oct2pm – 4pm169 King St, Whakatane
Rotorua16-Oct10am – 12pm1340 Hinemoa St, Rotorua
Rotorua16-Oct2pm – 4pm1340 Hinemoa St, Rotorua
Tauranga22-Oct10am – 12pmIdea Vocational Services, 154 Newton St, Tauranga
Tauranga22-Oct4pm – 6pmIdea Vocational Services, 154 Newton St, Tauranga
Thames23-Oct10am – 12pm205 Willoughby St, Thames
Paeroa23-Oct1pm – 3pmTotal Insight, 4 Hall St, Paeroa
Gisborne17-Oct9.30am – 11.30amIdea Gisborne Office, 124 Bright St, Gisborne
Gisborne17-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmIdea Gisborne Office, 124 Bright St, Gisborne
Wairoa18-Oct1.30pmWairoa Community Centre
Hastings16-Oct9.30am – 11.30amIdea West Hastings Area Office, 124 Lyndon St, Hastings
Hastings16-Oct1pm – 3pmIdea West Hastings Area Office, 124 Lyndon St, Hastings
Hastings16-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmIdea West Hastings Area Office, 124 Lyndon St, Hastings
Napier17-Oct8.30am – 10.30amDay Base, 44 Bower St, Napier
Napier17-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmDay Base, 44 Bower St, Napier
Taupo22-Oct10am – 12pmArt Shed, 135 Taharepa Rd
Whanganui22-Oct9.30am – 11.30amIdea Boardroom, 46 Alma Rd, Whanganui
Whanganui22-Oct1pm – 3pmIdea Boardroom, 46 Alma Rd, Whanganui
Whanganui22-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmIdea Boardroom, 46 Alma Rd, Whanganui
Dannevirke18-Oct10am – 12pmDannevirke Day Base
Palmerston North23-Oct9.30am – 11.30amE tū Office, Broadway Ave, Palmerston North
Palmerston North23-Oct1pm – 3pmE tū Office, Broadway Ave, Palmerston North
Palmerston North23-Oct3.30pm – 5.30pmE tū Office, Broadway Ave, Palmerston North
Marton24-Oct10am – 12pmMarton Day Base
Fielding24-Oct1pm – 3pmFielding South Day Base
Taranaki15-Oct10am – 12pmSouthern Lounge @ The Hub, Hawera
Taranaki16-Oct10am – 12pmThe Waitara Library Boardroom
Taranaki16-Oct3pm – 5pmSouthern Lounge @ The Hub, Hawera
Taranaki21-Oct10am – 12pmDistrict Citizens Service Club, 60 Juliet St, Stratford
Taranaki22-Oct10am – 12pmKaweroa Squash Club, New Plymouth
Taranaki22-Oct10am – 12pmKaweroa Squash Club, New Plymouth
Wellington15-Oct9.30am – 11.30amE tū Office, 7 McGregor St, Lyall Bay, Wellington
Wellington15-Oct1.30pm – 3.30pmE tū Office, 7 McGregor St, Lyall Bay, Wellington
Wellington15-Oct4.30pm – 6.30pmE tū Office, 7 McGregor St, Lyall Bay, Wellington
Horowhenua18-Oct9.30am – 11.30amLevin Cossie Club, 47 – 51 Oxford St, Levin
Horowhenua18-Oct12.30pm – 2.30pmLevin Cossie Club, 47 – 51 Oxford St, Levin
Horowhenua18-Oct3pm – 5pmLevin Cossie Club, 47 – 51 Oxford St, Levin
RIDSAS21-Oct9.30am – 11.30amRIDSAS Meeting Room, 24 Prosser St, Elsdon, Porirua
RIDSAS21-Oct12.30pm – 2.30pmRIDSAS Meeting Room, 24 Prosser St, Elsdon, Porirua
RIDSAS21-Oct3pm – 5pmRIDSAS Meeting Room, 24 Prosser St, Elsdon, Porirua
Mana22-Oct9.30am – 11.30amPember House, 16 Hagley St, Porirua
Kapiti22-Oct12.30pm – 2.30pmIdea Services Training Room, 1/21 Ihakara Street, Paraparaumu
Kapiti22-Oct3pm – 5pmIdea Services Training Room, 8C Ihakara St, Paraparaumu
Hutt Valley23-Oct9.30am – 11.30amIdea Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Hutt Valley23-Oct11.30am – 1.30pmIdea Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Hutt Valley23-Oct2pm – 4pmIdea Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Hutt Valley23-Oct5pm – 7pmIdea Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Wairarapa25-Oct9.30am – 11.30amREAP Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Wairarapa25-Oct1pm – 3pmREAP Training Room, 340 Queen St, Masterton
Hokitika16-Oct10am – 12pmPoutini Waiora, 17 Sewell St, Hokitika
Greymouth16-Oct2pm – 4pmUnion Hotel, 20 Herbert Street, Greymouth
Westport17-Oct10am – 12pmTai Poutinin Polytechnic Meeting Room, 280 Palmerston St, Greymouth
Motueka23-Oct9am – 11amCommunity House, Motueka
Blenheim24-Oct10am – 12pm, or 1pm – 3pmStubbs Room, Wesley Centre, Albert St, Blenheim
Blenheim24-Oct1pm – 2pmStubbs Room, Wesley Centre, Albert St, Blenheim
Nelson25-Oct10am – 12pmStoke Community Hall, Supper Room
Nelson25-Oct1pm – 2pmStoke Community Hall, Supper Room
Christchurch17-Oct9.30am – 11.30amPapanui RSA, 1 Harewood Rd, Christchurch
Christchurch17-Oct3pm – 5pmIDEA Services Office, 14 Birmingham Drive, Christchurch
Rangiora/North Canterbury18-Oct12pm – 2pmIDEA Services Office, George St
Kaikoura21-Oct11am – 1pmEncounter Kaikoura, 96 Esplanade, Kaikoura
Timaru/South Canterbury24-Oct10am – 12pmCaroline Bay Hall, Timaru
Timaru/South Canterbury24-Oct2pm – 4pmCaroline Bay Hall, Timaru
Ashburton/South Canterbury25-Oct9.30am – 11.30am21 Archibald St
Oamaru21-Oct1pm – 3pmOamaru Club (ex TAB room), Entrance off Reed St, Oamaru
Oamaru21-Oct4pm – 6pmOamaru Club (ex TAB room), Entrance off Reed St, Oamaru
Dunedin22-Oct10am – 12pmLabour Party Rooms, 68 MacAndrew Rd, South Dunedin
Dunedin22-Oct12.30pm – 2.30pmLabour Party Rooms, 68 MacAndrew Rd, South Dunedin
Dunedin22-Oct4.30pm – 6.30pmLabour Party Rooms, 68 MacAndrew Rd, South Dunedin
Balclutha25-Oct9.30am – 11.30amRudder Lounge, Captains Café, 13 Clyde St, Balclutha
Gore21-OctTBCTBC
Invercargill22-Oct1.30pm – 3.30pmIDEA Services Day Base, 60 Yarrow St, Invercargill
Invercargill22-Oct4.30pm – 6.30pmIDEA Services Day Base, 60 Yarrow St, Invercargill