This message was among the signs waved by care and support workers, as well as union advocates, as they called on the government to fully fund a pay equity settlement.
A crowd of about 30 people had gathered to take part as the rally began at noon, one of 10 held throughout the country from Auckland to Invercargill.
Other signs read "pay fair for care" and "minister of health, share the wealth".
E tū delegate Rachel Hannan, who has worked in the care sector for 20 years, said staff were feeling "really undervalued and very tired".
Staff working at Dunedin’s new Kmart were earning a living wage, whereas many care workers were not, she said.
Their work was an important part of the health system, but much of it went unseen by others.
She herself had come to the rally after working a long sleepover shift, she said.
E tū organiser Gwyn Stevenson said the three unions holding the rally — E tū, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and the Public Service Association — had banded together to push for an improvement.
"We’re hoping to send a message to [Health Minister] Shane Reti and the government."
A statement issued by E tū yesterday said it had been two years since a care and support workers’ pay equity claim was initiated.
"It was recently filed at the Employment Relations Authority after significant delays and slow progress," it said.
"The claim has implications for thousands of people working in aged care, disability support, home support, and mental health and addictions, and hundreds of health and community services."
Dr Reti said the government greatly valued the work of care and support workers, and the difference they made.
It was committed to supporting pay equity for all workers, including those in the care and support sector, he said.
However, the key pay equity relationship was between employers, employees and union representatives.
"I understand that the care and support workers’ pay equity claims are substantial and will be addressed separately to other funded sector claims and will extend to the whole care and support workforce.
"While the government recognises pay equity as the responsibility of employers, it has provided, and will continue to provide, support to assist the employers and unions with addressing pay equity for care and support workers."
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) funding systems group manager Mark Powell said the organisation was not a party to the pay equity claim.
"However, HNZ, as a major funder, has been in ongoing discussions with employers to support them with resolving the claim made against them."
