Up to 60 South Canterbury care and support workers employed by IDEA Services, the operational arm of IHC, will join about 3000 of their colleagues on a nationwide strike on Monday.
After a full day of mediation, on Monday, brought no settlement, the E Tu union decided to embark on industrial action as no middle ground could be met with its employer.
South Canterbury E Tu delegate Dinah Dolamore, who has been with IDEA Services for 13 years, says up to 60 employees, of the about 75 employed by the organisation in the region, will be involved in the industrial action.
E Tu delegate Dinah Dolamore says IDEA staff face assault on a daily basis.
"We're doing a picket on Wai-ti Rd by the lights on the grass area, and we're on strike from 7am-11am."
Dolamore cited poor worker safety, inefficiency, poor remuneration and lack of resources, and insufficient staff as the main reasons for the strike.
"Top management need to know that we are under resourced and definitely understaffed."
She said lack of staff safety was of huge concern and employees faced abuse and assault on a daily basis.
"We just want to have a safe workplace to go to, know that we can go home each night intact and not injured."
Dolamore said many employees pitched up everyday because they loved their jobs, but the levels of abuse had to stop.
She called on IDEA Services to stop the "yearly delaying tactics when it came to negotiations at the bargaining table".
"They need to come to the bargaining table in good faith with a realistic approach."
E tū industry co-ordinator Alastair Duncan says IDEA Services refused a union request to even discuss options.
"Not only does IDEA Services want to cut current conditions, it also wants to undermine the job security of the workforce, using the mantra of so-called 'flexibility'," he said.
"Union members are fed up with the way their long-standing concerns have been ignored."
Delegates said they are sick of having problems like understaffing parked in working parties which go nowhere.
"Every day and every night, seven days a week, staff go the extra mile. Just once a year we ask IDEA to reflect that contribution by working together to improve the working conditions of staff."
Duncan said union members have sought a greater voice on health and safety, and recognition for working weekends as well as the restoration of responsibility margins.
"IDEA responded by wanting to cut sick leave accumulation, force staff to move workplaces without agreement or notice and simply refused to consider recognition that staff are required to work anti-social hours."
He said staff are concerned that IDEA has dug its heels in leaving them little choice but to take what is lawful, modest but important industrial action.
Duncan said IHC locked its staff out of weekend pay and other allowances in the 1990s and it is now well past time to return "what was stolen".
IDEA Services chief operating officer Joan Cowan said the strike action involving many support workers means contingency plans will now be put in place to ensure the safety of its people.
"Some services may change or be delayed on the day of industrial action," she said.
"IDEA Services will communicate with anyone who is affected."
Cowan urged people to contact their local area managers should they have any questions about contingency services.
The strike will begin at 7am and affect several hundred residential, vocational and secure homes and facilities.