April 1 Bupa rally in Auckland

Bupa workers turned out from across Tāmaki on 1 April to rally to protect their hours of work from proposed cuts. They marched from the domain to the Bupa head office in Newmarket, demanding that the proposals are withdrawn, and delivering thousands of signatures via petitions to a representative from the company.

Aged care worker Epenesa Mutimuti says staff at aged residential care facilities across the country are in shock that at a time when New Zealand is in dire need of health care workers, and they’re under tremendous pressure, aged care providers are proposing cuts to care time.

"The Government’s failure to adequately fund aged residential care is leading to providers to make impossible decisions that hurt both residents and workers, including Bupa. Cutting back nursing and caregiver hours at aged care facilities puts the health and safety of vulnerable residents at risk.

Epenesa Mutimuti says many workers are being forced to reduce their hours, which will leave them unable to afford essential living costs. Others are being made redundant after many years of loyal service. The proposed changes will increase workloads and put the health of elderly and frail residents at risk.

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