CYF 'disappointed' about strike over holidays

Child Youth and Family is "disappointed" staff will take industrial action during the Christmas period, especially as the union secretary has said it would be "stupid" to do so.

The timing of the industrial action by the social workers and administration staff - members of the National Union of Public Employees - means they will not attend any callouts on any of the statutory holidays, union organiser Lynda Boyd told NZPA.

Ms Boyd said CYF had offered social workers an 11 per cent pay increase and administrators had been offered 6.4 per cent.

But health sector social workers had received 20 per cent to 30 per cent rises, and she said the CYF employees wanted parity with their health counterparts.

Some of the CYF administration staff earned only $10.50 an hour, just $1 above minimum wage, Ms Boyd said.

However, CYF general manager Jo Mika-Thomas said those figures were incorrect.

"The average wage of [public employee union] staff in administration roles is currently $17.30 per hour. The offer CYF has made will see this increase to $18.43."

The action, involving 46 front-line staff, will begin at 5pm tomorrow and continue indefinitely.

- NZPA