By Sue Newman

It probably had to come to tough talking and tough actions.

Some of our poorest paid workers are those who do the job of watching over people with an intellectual disability while they endeavour to live as close to a normal life as possible.

There are a raft of people involved in the care spectrum, but often the workers least likely to be noticed are those who leave their own homes at night to spend their sleeping hours in a strange house with strangers.

Across New Zealand there are more than 3000 community support workers providing round the clock care for the disabled clients.

 Many of these people love what they do, have formed strong bonds with their clients and do not want to move into other fields of work.

 That doesn't mean, however, that they should be taken for granted when it comes to their pay rates.

For months food and service union workers have been battling for recognition of their low pay rates.

 They don't want a lot, just a 2% increase. What they've been offered is a 12 month pay freeze.

Finally, they've had enough.

 They've talked, they've waited, they've taken short term strike action and they've marched. Their employers are immovable.

Finally, they've decided to do what they desperately do not want to do, refuse to go on night care duty.

When the sun sets on Monday, the familiar faces will be missing from Ashburton's six or so independent living homes for people with intellectual disabilities.

 Someone else will have to fill the gap.

Those front line staff are critical to the smooth running of organisations such as the IHC.

 Their clients trust them, but they've had enough and even knowing that not turning up for their scheduled duties might upset their clients, quite rightly they've decided they have to look out for their own welfare too.

Overtime will be out, and so will driving their own vehicles on IHC business. Non essential paper work will be left to mount up.

They've waited for a reasonable approach from their employer. It hasn't come and they've had enough.

These guys are one group of disgruntled workers who will have public sympathy on their side.