Home support workers from across the country took to the streets on Wednesday calling on the Government to urgently increase their mileage allowance.
Bikes, skateboards and hobby horses represented the "ridiculous lengths" Nelson Tasman workers will need to go to now that they can no longer afford petrol to travel between clients, the Public Service Association(PSA) say.
"Home support workers use their own vehicles to travel to their clients. They fund their own vehicle cost and are paid an already inadequate mileage rate, and the rocketing cost of fuel means they are even worse off", says Fleur Fitzsimons, national secretary for the PSA.
The In Between Travel payment for home support workers is $2.35, paid whether the drive 1km or 15km to get to their next client.
"These workers are providing an essential public service. They are among the lowest-paid workers in the country and already had their pay equity claim cancelled."
Local home support workers say they are having to choose whether to buy food for their family or put fuel in their car for work.
Nelson workers gathered outside BP on Haven Rd on Wednesday afternoon, where 91 petrol is currently sitting at $3.44/l.
They brandished signs stating "I don't get Working for Families, but I'm working for families", a dig at the temporary $50 a week increase to the In Work Tax Credit, that many of them don't receive with no dependent children.
