New redundances at Callaghan Innovation will undermine the country’s capacity to commercialise innovations of New Zealand businesses, which the Government claims it is so focussed on, says the union for Callaghan Innovation workers, the Public Service Association.

Last night, Callaghan Innovation told 63 workers their roles were being made redundant, including 16 commercialisation roles, 14 scientists and engineers, 6 Māori Innovation roles, and others working in data, digital, product design, risk and audit, marketing, government engagement and technical support.

"The Government is dismissing the very workers who could help grow the economy," said PSA Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. "People working in those commercialisation roles have the skills to turn ideas into internationally marketable products and services quickly and successfully."

Last month, Science Minister Shane Reti told Callaghan Innovation’s Board Chair that Callaghan would lose most of its funding well before its formal disestablishment, and before any new science organisations have been set up through the science system reforms recently announced. That will see around 75 science staff out of work and forced to find work overseas.

"The Minister is driving workers with essential knowledge out of the country. By defunding Callaghan Innovation before it’s disestablished, the Minister is forcing staff into redundancy with nowhere in New Zealand for them to go to."

Cabinet papers released alongside the science reform announcements stated that the Minister would conduct a review of capability within Callaghan Innovation that could be retained and transferred elsewhere. However, this review resulted in minimal change.

"Callaghan Innovation staff were never given an opportunity to have input on this review," said Fitzsimons. "The Minister has made decisions without even talking to the people who are losing their livelihoods over this.

"The Minister must treat Callaghan Innovation staff with dignity and respect and find ways to keep these highly skilled staff in New Zealand. Otherwise, we’ll lose more people offshore while New Zealand becomes a less attractive place to be a scientist.

"How will that help the Government’s economic growth agenda?"

ENDS

Previous statement on cuts at Callaghan Innovation

5 February Govt must re-employ science staff about to be axed from Callaghan Innovation

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The PSA firmly rejects any return to selling state assets following today’s comments from the Prime Minister.

Christopher Luxon said National may seek a mandate for asset sales at the next election. That comes days after ACT Leader David Seymour floated the prospect of privatisation of public health and other public services.

"Not content with stripping the guts out of the public service, now we have a Prime Minister floating selling state assets – it's a return to the failed policies of the past," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"If the Government thinks selling state assets will drive economic growth, then the public should be worried.

"Have we not learnt from the past? Our history is littered with failed privatisations which required expensive bail outs and buy backs by taxpayers – remember the failures of Kiwi Rail, Air New Zealand and the Bank of New Zealand.

"The PSA doubts the public's mood for asset sales has shifted since the 2013 citizens-initiated referendum where two thirds of voters rejected asset sales.

"Asset sales are just a short-term sugar hit, and the public will be worse off. This is not simply a 'recycling of assets' as the PM puts it, but a loss of ownership and control. It's wrong.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past and keep the state's silver in public hands. The PSA will be making its opposition to any return to the failed asset sales agenda of the past loud and clear."

ENDS

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The PSA is urging new Health Minister Simeon Brown to make good on his promise to deliver better health outcomes for New Zealanders and lift the hiring freeze on the health workforce.

When unveiled as the new Health Minister one week ago today, Mr Brown made much of his priority to ensure the health system ‘delivers for New Zealanders’.

"The Minister has had a week of briefings from officials and knows the issues so should start delivering straight away and lift the hiring freeze on the health workforce," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The freeze has impacted many urgently needed frontline roles. At the same time the Government had inflicted damaging cuts to jobs throughout Te Whatu Ora.

"Hundreds of workers have lost jobs or will soon be gone in a desperate effort by the Government to simply save money. That’s not how you deliver better health outcomes for New Zealanders.

"It’s time to put a halt to the restructuring and save the jobs of so many who make a vital contribution to the health system. The Government needs to invest more in health instead of choosing to spend billions on tax cuts.

"It’s reassuring that Te Whatu Ora has put some restructures on hold - the Minister needs to order them to be scrapped entirely and end the uncertainty for health workers.

"Replacing Health Minister Shane Reti after barely a year in the job was a clear admission of failure by the Prime Minister.

"Christopher Luxon knows New Zealanders are seeing the cold hard reality of the health cuts every day in longer wait times at EDs, delays to elective surgery and other problems.

"The new Health Minister now needs to step up and deliver - that means no more cuts."

ENDS

Recent PSA statements on health cuts

19 January Shuffling Ministers ignores need to increase funding for health and the public service

17 December 2024 Patients will die if Govt proceeds with plans to halve Health IT staff

16 December 2024 Another 300 health roles face the axe

27 November 2024 Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles

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Privatising public services like health that we all rely on will move the focus from delivering for people in need to cutting costs to boost profits of companies.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi strongly opposes increased delivery by private providers of public services like health and education, and asset sales as mooted today by ACT leader David Seymour.

Acting PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the ACT proposals would take money from public services and funnel it towards private providers. This defunding of public services would see the interests of private companies and a limited number of shareholders prioritised over the common good in the provision of vital services.

"Privatisation will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing services for all to pay profits to private corporations, says Fitzsimons.

"This will result in only those who can pay being able to access adequate health care and other vital services.

"Just look at the health system in the USA where the private sector dominates and sick people without health insurance are left at hospital doors. We don’t want that here.

"Assets sales have been tried and failed in New Zealand. The only winners are private companies.

"Public services and assets belong to all of us and are there to deliver for people not shareholders.

"Privatisation will also mean that the workers who deliver quality public, health and community services will see their livelihoods threatened by redundancies and reduced pay and conditions," Fitzsimons says.

"The coalition Government’s savage attacks on, and funding cuts to public, health and community services, are clearly aimed at destroying trust in these services as a step towards privatisation.

"The PSA calls on Prime Minister Luxon rule out privatising public services now and in the future," Fitzsimons says.

ENDS

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The PSA is calling on incoming Science Minister Shane Reti to commit to retaining New Zealand’s valuable science workforce and prevent any further job losses.

Shane Reiti is sworn in today as the new Science, Innovation and Technology Minister.

"It was very disappointing to hear the outgoing Minister, Judith Collins, on Morning Report fail to say there will be no more cuts to a workforce already decimated by the chaotic and rushed cuts she ordered as Minister," said Fleur Fitzsimons Acting National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Some 500 scientists, researchers and lab workers have already lost their jobs and many have headed overseas where they are valued.

"The country can’t afford to lose any more skilled workers - the reforms Minister Reti will now drive will only succeed if the Government properly respects and values the existing workforce who now face more uncertainty on top of a year of restructuring.

"The Government makes a big deal about attracting skilled people to New Zealand to drive economic growth - it should make the same commitment to our science workers who live here now. Without that, more workers may just seek more secure jobs overseas.

"It must also commit to investing more in the facilities science workers need to do their best work. The Gluckman report said science was very underfunded already, but the Government has not made any promise to increase investment. One of its first acts was to scrap the previous Government’s big upgrade to labs and other facilities.

"If the Government is serious about using science to drive economic growth, it must invest more and retain the science workforce."

ENDS

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New science plan exposes chaotic nature of restructuring to date

It’s hard to have confidence in the Government’s latest science strategy when it comes with no promise of new funding or a commitment to retaining the current workforce.

The long overdue science reform strategy promises another huge restructure on top of the restructure endured by science agencies to date, creating more uncertainty and worry for thousands of science workers.

"Our heart goes out to staff at Callaghan Innovation who have already endured a long restructure and now face an uncertain future with the agency to be scrapped entirely," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. "Their work is valued and important no matter what the Government says."

"It’s ironic that just over a decade ago it was a National-led government that launched Callaghan Innovation, with the then PM John Key praising the late Sir Paul Callaghan for his belief that ‘science could make New Zealand a better place’.

"Just last year, the Government rushed to axe the jobs of around 500 scientists and researchers across various agencies, many of whom have been forced to uproot their lives and go offshore where their skills are valued.

"Now it wants to deliver this latest reform quickly - it’s just a recipe for more chaos and uncertainty.

"The Government puts much store on the role of science in driving economic growth and productivity, but is promising no new funding and there is no commitment to retain our existing scientists, lab workers and researchers.

"It is yet another example we have seen throughout the public service where agencies are being told by this Government that they have to do more with less. It makes no sense and won’t work."

"Countries around the world that perform well are the very ones that invest in science, and value the people who do the work. Yet we have lost so many of brightest offshore because of the irresponsible decisions to date.

"The PSA urges the Government to have the voice of scientists and researchers on the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council as its workers who know what will work. It needs to do better at properly respecting the vital role they play in growing the economy and helping us meet our challenges."

ENDS

Past PSA statements on science cuts

25 September 2024 Govt blind to risks as science cuts leave Kiwis more vulnerable to natural disasters

14 May 2024 Critical forestry research under threat as attack on science ramps up

9 April 2024 Another dark day for science and climate - 90 jobs to go at NIWA

9 April 2024 Attack on science steps up with jobs going at Callaghan Innovation

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If the Government thinks changing Ministers will deliver better health and other public services for New Zealanders, it's dead wrong.

"New Ministers need to advocate for increased funding for health and the public service as the disastrous impacts of cuts are being felt all over New Zealand," said Fleur Fitzsimons Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The polls are showing New Zealanders are far from impressed with the Government's rushed and reckless austerity agenda - they are seeing what it really means for them.

"The cuts will cost lives; New Zealanders expect and deserve better.

"We wish the new Ministers well, but their success will depend on their ability to secure increased funding for health and the public service, not more irresponsible cuts.

"The Government has consistently chosen tax relief for landlords and tax cuts at the expense of our public service and health system. The chickens are coming home to roost and now only increased funding and a genuine commitment to the public service and health can ensure that New Zealanders get the public services they need.

"The PSA will be in collective bargaining for thousands of union members in health and the public service this year. We need to see fair pay movements that reflect the increased cost of living and to ensure that we can attract and retain talented public servants and health workers."

ENDS

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Immigration Border Operations staff begin strike action tomorrow at 6am, joining other colleagues at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, insulted by the Ministry's recent zero pay offer.

The Immigration Border Operations staff, being essential workers, must give longer notice to take strike action. Tomorrow, they join some 3000 other PSA members who began action on 17 December.

PSA members will not undertake unpaid essential or non-essential work, and take rest and meal breaks together at specific times.

"These are critical workers who have been totally disrespected by this Government which is determined to run down the public service at every step regardless of the consequences," said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Immigration Border Operations workers at New Zealand's four international airports ensure only properly documented travellers arrive and leave the country, amongst other duties.

They work alongside counterparts in Customs, Police, MPI and other agencies who help keep New Zealand safe from threats and hazards by reducing the risks from people, goods, or craft arriving at our border.

"Border Operations staff and all MBIE workers deserve a fair pay rise that respects the valuable work they do across the economy and one that reflects the cost-of-living pressures on their budgets - the PSA will keep pushing for that," said Fleur Fitzsimons.

MBIE workers are the latest group of workers to be offered a zero percent pay increase. It follows New Zealand Defence Force civilian staff being offered the same. These workers are also undertaking industrial action.

ENDS

Previous statements

17 December Zero pay offer triggers strike action by MBIE staff

3 December NZDF poised to axe more civilian roles as it faces a $360m blowout in costs

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Christchurch Airport firefighters will from tomorrow refuse to carry out a range of non-core duties following the continued refusal of the airport company to table a pay offer that respects their critical role.

The strike action takes place over a 21-day period, beginning at 8am tomorrow Wednesday 18 December 2024 and ending 6pm Wednesday 8 January 2025. This follows the breakdown in negotiations for a new collective employment agreement. Negotiations have been underway since August.

"We are disappointed to still be in this situation, but it is one of the airport company’s own making by failing to respect the valuable work our members do around the clock," said Fleur Fitzsimons Acting National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"We had been hopeful that the airport would have tabled a fresh and acceptable offer during the facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority last week, but that has not happened yet.

"The company has left members with no choice but to continue with the planned action."

Christchurch Airport is a very profitable employer. Underlying profit jumped 37% this year to $41.8m. Its shareholders - Christchurch City Council and the Government - received a dividend of nearly $19m.

"The airport company has the money to give firefighters a pay rise that properly respects the critical role they play in keeping passengers safe and helping the airport run smoothly.

"They work hard, firefighters maintain a 24/7 operation and live on site. Their pay needs to reflect the unusual and important nature of their work. It’s insulting that the company thinks firefighters are overpaid.

"The current offer is well below the rate of inflation. Our members went backwards in the last agreement, and they are not prepared to have their real pay further eroded at a time when costs, including mortgage rates, are still a huge burden for many.

"The PSA urges the airport company to do the right thing and make a fair pay offer."

ENDS

The industrial action includes a ban on undertaking various duties including:

- Undertaking overtime unless before or after a rostered shift

- Trial evacuations

- Spill reporting

- Recording of safety patrols, runway inspections, vehicle checks and incident reports

- Supporting wildlife staff

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The toll in lives lost will only rise further

The opening of the books today shows the Government is determined to keep making brutal cuts to public services which will cost lives.

"This reckless drive to cut costs shows the Government is prepared to put dollars ahead of the lives of New Zealanders," said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"International evidence proves austerity costs lives."

Research by Glasgow University shows people dying younger and the poorest areas of the UK being the hardest hit. An additional 335,000 deaths were observed across Scotland, England & Wales between 2012 and 2019 during a time of deep cuts to public spending by the Conservative Government. [1]

"This Government is heading down the same path, decimating Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry for Social Development and the Department of Conservation.

"These agencies have suffered deep cuts that will mean they can’t do their job properly and all New Zealanders will suffer. The impacts of these cuts will be investigated and uncovered by coroners, Ministerial Inquiries and Royal Commissions in the future as we chart back why accidents happened and services were not able to fulfil their role.

"History and now fresh evidence tell us that austerity doesn’t work, but the Government is failing to listen. Today in the Budget Policy Statement it set the stage for further deep and broad cuts which will impact the services New Zealanders need now and in the future.

"Public service workers and the valuable work they do are being sacrificed for this irresponsible obsession. The Government must re-think its approach."

ENDS

Background

The Budget Policy Statement today stated that "savings will need to be found, beyond those already identified in the previous Budget. And third, with a small number of exceptions, government departments should expect to receive no additional funding in the Budget".

Public service job losses and cuts to date include:

- Over 400 staff at Oranga Tamariki and deep funding cuts for community providers like Family Start and the Salvation Army supporting families and children at risk.

- Risks to patient health from the near halving of specialist IT staff at hospitals.

- Over 700 staff who ensure our social security system supports those who need help like families doing it tough and the elderly.

- The gutting of Kāinga Ora which has led a successful social housing build programme.

- Around 500 scientists and researchers who are dealing with climate change and helping build a more innovative and productive economy.

- The restructure of hazard watching GeoNet service which helps New Zealand prepare for life-threatening natural hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes.

- The loss of digital harm specialists at the Department of Internal Affairs who keep the internet safe from those who want to harm children.

[1] Bearing the burden of austerity: how do changing mortality rates in the UK compare between men and women? Glasgow University, October 2022

ENDS

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Documents lay bare Govt putting dollars ahead of patient safety

The Government is playing fast and loose with the lives of New Zealanders by running down the vital IT systems that underpin critical care services in hospitals.

A risk planning document obtained by 1 News show the Government ignoring the risks to patient safety by pressing ahead with gutting Te Whatu Ora’s Data and Digital group to save $100 million a year.

"This is cold, hard evidence that the Government is prepared to risk the lives of patients to save money," said Ashok Shankar, National Health Sector Lead, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The Government has told New Zealanders continually and loudly that its cuts will not impact the frontline of hospital services. These documents expose that for what it is - a bold-faced lie.

"The Government promised evidence-based decisions but is happy to ignore evidence when it doesn’t suit its cost cutting agenda."

The document was prepared to inform Te Whatu Ora leaders of the risks to critical care systems from its proposal to cut 47% of roles in the Data and Digital Group - a total of 1120 full time roles.

"It’s shameful that the Government has signed off on these cuts despite knowing the huge risks it’s taking. The price will be paid by New Zealanders who will not get the urgent critical treatment they need. Without a doubt some patients will die.

"It’s very concerning that the documents also show that the ability of hospitals to respond to a major emergency like a cyclone or earthquake is being put at risk by this decision. New Zealanders deserve better.

"The PSA understands that staff, including senior leaders, are alarmed at the risks that are being taking with the scale of these cuts, but have been ignored."

The Government was warned this year that IT systems were ‘fragile and fragmented’ and billions needed to be invested. 136 applications to fix these problems have now been stopped or deferred according to one of the documents.

"New Zealanders should expect hospital IT systems to work well, 24/7, so clinicians can provide the care patients need at the most critical moment in their lives.

"Given the urgent need to upgrade systems, integrate various old legacy DHB systems and maintain them for the time being, the Government should be investing more not less.

"But the Government has made a choice to fund tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco ahead of the lives of New Zealanders. This is reckless and irresponsible."

ENDS

Previous PSA statement

27 November Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles

Background

The PSA has sighted the document obtained by 1 News, relating to the Northern Region where most New Zealanders live, titled Regional DCE impact assessment worksheet Sept 2024

The documents reflect feedback from Digital and Data staff on the risks of reducing the workforce. The register of risks rates 14 out of the 40 risks as "almost certain" to happen, with "severe" consequences.

Many of the impacts described relate to outages in critical core care systems (Category 0 and 1). Te Whatu Ora says the consequences of failure for a Category 1 service "could result in permanent injury or death for one or more health consumers".

The document states that unplanned outages or reduction in Data and Digital staff could have significant impacts for example as follows.

"Outages would last longer, severely impacting patient care, administrative functions, and operational efficiency."

"Imminent risk of catastrophic failure."

"Increased incidents and outages, overall reduced quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of care."

"Clinicians making clinical decisions without access to full information."

'Less effective and efficient clinical and operation teams during emergency response situations."

"This will lead to poorer health outcomes, increased staff turnover, and the loss of vital intellectual property, ultimately resulting in significant deterioration of category 0 and 1 clinical services and patient safety."

"Clinical staff burnout and patient care."

"Will lead to an overwhelmed workforce."

Faults could "snowball."

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PSA members at the Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) have voted overwhelming in favour of taking industrial action after receiving a zero percent pay offer.

Industrial action from approximately 3000 union members starts on Tuesday 17 December and will run until 20 January. Members will not undertake unpaid essential or non-essential work, and take rest and meal breaks together at specific times. From 6am on New Year’s Eve, Border Operations staff will join the industrial action.

"These workers are worth much more than zero percent and have been left with no choice but to stand together and take this action, and to show the importance of their work to all New Zealanders," said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Once again, we are seeing the Government devaluing workers who provide important public services to New Zealanders. This is just another sad symptom of the Government’s obsession with cutting public service budgets regardless of the valuable work carried out."

PSA members at MBIE deliver a wide range of services supporting businesses and people across New Zealand. Border Operations workers facilitate the flow of migrants across, and maintain the security of, New Zealand’s borders.

"The scale of work done is broad and deep - their work underpins New Zealand’s economy."

PSA members work at MBIE includes:

• Answering the public’s questions about employment, immigration, tenancy, public holidays, minimum wage, and more.
• Bringing in tourist dollars and new workers through the Immigration system.
• Investing in regional initiatives and research, science and innovation.
• Helping draft laws for the smooth running of the country.
• Ensuring safe and fair rules and regulations for consumers and businesses.
• Supporting the sustainable management of natural resources.
• Guiding businesses through major economic events.
• Maintain the security of New Zealand’s borders.

This is the latest group of workers to be offered a zero percent pay increase. It follows New Zealand Defence Force civilian staff being offered the same. These workers are also undertaking industrial action.  

ENDS

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More than 50 PSA members, MPs, other union representatives and health and safety experts staged a ‘flash mob’ picket outside WorkSafe’s head office this morning as the agency confirms plans to cut a further 54 jobs.

The jobs being axed include the disestablishment of the health team, who work to prevent health-related harm and deaths in our workplaces. Every year, 750-900 workers die of ‘chronic harm’, or health issues caused by work.

"These latest job losses give us great concern that the government is intent on taking the health out of health and safety," said PSA Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.

"They build on repeated job cuts at WorkSafe over the past 18 months and members have repeatedly said this crucial agency, which protects New Zealanders at work from death and serious injury, can no longer do the job we need it to do."

CTU Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk told the rally that cuts demonstrated that Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brook van Velden has no commitment to keeping people safe at work.

"Health and safety system is being decimated. We are seeing the recreation of the inadequate system which directly led to the Pike River disaster. The government must set a clear strategy to ensure not one more worker is killed or injured at work."

"These latest job cuts are the direct opposite of the investment WorkSafe needs to do the job it is legally charged with doing. We again call on the Minister to intervene. Not doing so will have serious consequences for New Zealand workers and Ms van Velden’s reputation."

Labour and Greens Workplace Relations spokespeople Camilla Belich and Teanau Tuiono and Greens Public Services spokesperson Francisco Hernandez also spoke to the rally, emphasising their support for WorkSafe staff and for rebuilding a properly resourced health and safety system.

ENDS

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The already stretched health service will be put under more pressure by proposals to axe approximately another 300 roles announced by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand today.

The proposals announced today follow the releases of proposals on 27 November to axe 1500 roles as Te Whatu Ora is forced to meet the Government’s demand for funding cuts for vital services.

Three of the four proposals today cover approximately 200 roles (including vacant roles) in the new Planning, Funding & Outcomes business unit (PFO).

The PFO teams are responsible for redesigning service delivery nationally, managing contracts and procurement, developing critical relationships with stakeholders, forming and participating in advisory groups, and monitoring risks.

"The planning and funding work of the PFO covers healthcare for New Zealanders from conception to a dignified death and everything in between," says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Health Lead Ashok Shankar.

The fourth proposal is to axe 92 roles (including 46 vacancies) from the Procurement Supply Chain and Health Technology Management business unit.

"The latest proposed changes will have an impact on the front line and on the delivery of health care to all New Zealanders," Shankar says.

"Community and mental health services, and research, clinical trials, population health, whānau voice and innovation are impacted the most by the proposed cuts.

"People who will bear the brunt of these cuts include mothers and babies, those impacted by family violence, rural communities, the rainbow community, refugees and migrants, Māori, young people and patients in palliative care.

"These proposed changes are about money, rather than doing what is right for the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa. These senseless cuts need to stop," Shankar says.

Cynical timing will increase pressure on staff

"As well as having a significant impact on the health care of New Zealanders releasing these proposed changes one week out from when many workers will be taking leave over Christmas will cause considerable concern and uncertainty for staff," Shankar says.

The cynical timing of the announcement will also reduce the effectiveness of the consultation process.

"Some workers are currently on annual leave, which has been encouraged by their employer. The timing of the release reduces their ability to give feedback on the change documents in a timely manner.

"We are writing to Te Whatu Ora today to challenge the timing of the release of proposals.

"Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand has not consulted with the union before releasing the change documents.

"Te Whatu Ora have continuously delayed the release of these change proposals. We have not been consulted on this process, except for being given an early ‘heads up that it’s coming," Shankar says.

The changes by the numbers:

(Some figures include vacant roles many of which have been left unfilled by the freeze on hiring)

Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) Community and Mental Health Services; and Funding and Investment teams

• Reduction of approximately 57 FTEs, including approximately 49 from community and mental health services.

• Areas being impacted include: Rural, young people, maternity, wellbeing and harm reduction, Whanau wellbeing, population health, early years, maternity, sexual health, radiology, family violence, refugee and migrant, reproductive health, primary care and palliative care
• Programmes impacted:
• Starting Well: Kahu Taurima/maternity, Healthy Homes, rheumatic fever, family violence and sexual violence, long term conditions, sexual health, needle exchange, oral health, school-based health services, gender affirming care and variations in sex characteristics
• oLiving Well: partnering with Primary and Community providers to reimagine systems of care across General Practice, Pharmacy, Telehealth, Ambulance, Laboratory and Radiology, planned/unplanned care, assisted dying and abortion
• oAgeing Well: partnering with Aged Residential Care and Home and Community Support providers to reimagine service and funding models for the health of older people.

o Mentally Well: responsible for leading, designing and implementing system and service solutions across Mental Health and Addictions services, working in partnership with Hospital and Specialist Services.

Planning, Funding and Outcomes (PFO) Former service improvement and innovation (SI&I) functions, Te Whatu Ora Improve; Evidence, research and clinical trials; Operations, Population Health Gain; consumer engagement whanau voice; and former office of the chief executive (OEC) function; strategic planning.

• Reduction of approximately 138 FTEs

• Areas of impact include, community paediatrician, clinical leads, public health physicians.

Planning Funding and Outcomes (PFO) Data and Analytics

• Reduction of approximately 9

• Areas of impact include payroll and auditing.

Procurement Supply Chain and Health Technology Management

• Reduction of approximately 92 FTEs (including 46 vacancies)

• Areas impacted include: laboratories, surgical services, clinical services, diagnostics, transport and logistics, linen, laundry, food, security, quality assurance, medicine and intervention, oncology IVs, bloods, vaccines, imaging, clinical equipment and consumables and medicines

ENDS

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WorkSafe staff will take to the street Tuesday morning to picket against the organisation’s axing of 54 further roles.

WorkSafe, Aotearoa’s workplace health and safety regulator, announced the cuts last week, including the disestablishment of the health team, who work to prevent health-related harm and deaths in our workplaces.

The latest round of job cuts follows 113 roles being axed in November 2023. It brings the total WorkSafe job losses to nearly 170 in the last 12 months.

"WorkSafe is taking the ‘health’ out of ‘health and safety’," Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.

"This is a huge worry for all workers who deserve to come home safe and not be exposed to risks to their health and safety in the workplace.

"Like all community and public services, the impact of job cuts extends far beyond the walls of an office. Every year, 750-900 workers die of ‘chronic harm’, or health issues caused by work.

"Without the health team, the prevention of health-related harm and death at work becomes less of a priority - having untold consequences for workers across sectors.

"With every role axed, another worker, or their family, is left longer without care, justice or redress for harm or death on the job."

Picket Details

Date: Tuesday 17 December

Time: 8.30am

Location: Old Bank Arcade Corner, Customhouse Quay, Lambton Quay and Willis St, Wellington.  

ENDS

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The PSA has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority to stop the Government restricting flexible workplace practices, including the recent directive on working from home.

"The PSA is firmly of the view that the Government is unable to do this because of existing agreements which aim to ensure women are not discriminated against," said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Te Kawa Mataaho - the Public Service Commission - is consulting unions and government agencies on new flexible work practice guidelines following a directive from the Government in September to reduce the days  public service workers can work from home.

"Women make up 62 percent of public service employees and many need flexible work to help them care for whānau so the Government’s recent directive to restrict working from home will really impact them.

"The directive violates the agreements the PSA and Council of Trade Unions struck with the Government and the Gender Pay Principles which are also contained in many collective agreements. These are binding in our view, which is why we are seeking a determination from the Authority to resolve this."

In 2018 the PSA entered in into an agreement - the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020.

"The agreed Gender Pay Principles aim to end gender equality and normalise flexible work practices so for the Government to turn around and attack flexible work practices is a clear breach of these commitments.

"We are asking the Authority to enforce the agreed Gender Pay Principles and the agreed Flexible Work by Default Guidance so that we can genuinely see workplaces free from gender-based inequality.

"The Government is ignoring the fact that flexible work agreements are part and parcel of modern workplaces - our survey of members last week underlined just how important they are in improving productivity and workplace culture.

"The Government not only risks violating existing agreements, it risks taking us backwards as a country when the public sector should be showing leadership and doing more to eliminate discrimination against women and particularly Māori women."

ENDS

Recent press release: 5 Dec Research shows working from home improves public service productivity

Background Gender Pay Principles

The Gender Pay Principles guide all government work on gender pay with the aim of ending discrimination based on gender, and closing the gender pay gap. They require senior leaders to eliminate gender inequalities, require agencies to apply specific resourcing to ensure Māori women are not discriminated against and work with unions to ensure equitable practices are sustained.

ENDS

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Children’s Minister Karen Chhour needs to reverse the Government’s funding cuts putting at risk the jobs of more than 300 frontline workers providing vital care for 4000 vulnerable children.

Children’s charity Stand Tū Māia (which evolved out of the Children's Health Camps) is today taking urgent legal action against Oranga Tamariki for unilaterally reneging on a three-year $21 million contract after only six months.

The contract funds Stand Tū Māia to provide specialised trauma treatment and wraparound support for families with complex needs living with multiple forms of adversity.

Oranga Tamariki plans to end funding under its Stand Tū Māia contract on 31 December 2024. This would see more than 300 workers, the majority of which are registered social workers, lose their jobs from 4 January 2025, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary Melissa Wooley.

"It is totally unacceptable that the support for 4000 vulnerable children and their families, and the jobs of more than 300 workers should be axed so suddenly, with no thought to the consequences," Woolley says.

"Children’s Minister Karen Chhour needs to step up and put a stop to this appalling and cold-hearted decision which comes just weeks after the Prime Minister delivered an apology in Parliament to the survivors of abuse in care.

"Minister Chhour needs to act quickly to ensure that the Government does not trigger another round of unnecessary suffering and trauma for a new generation of vulnerable children and by so doing write another dark chapter in the history of this country.

"It is unacceptable for the Minister to hide behind the convenient excuse that this is merely an ‘operational matter’. She needs to urgently intervene and ensure Oranga Tamariki has the fundin git needs to honour the contract it signed with Stand Tū Māia," Woolley says.

"Not only is the Government not honouring a contract it signed but it is once again breaking its promise to New Zealanders that spending cuts would not affect frontline services.

"This is just a further example of how the Government’s decision to prioritise funding tax relief for landlords and support for tobacco companies is seeing public services being cut in communities across the motu," Woolley says.

"This is a Government of broken promises," Woolley says.

ENDS

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This Human Rights Day (December 10), the PSA is calling for the Government and local councils to deliver pay equity for care and support workers and library workers respectively.

The care and support pay equity claim impacts more than 65,000 people - mostly women - across the motu. The library claim covers library workers employed by Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin councils.

Both claims have proven that the employers pay these workers less than the value of their work because most of the workers are women, said Alex Davies, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary.

"Thousands more women employed or funded by government are moving through the pay equity process to address the undervaluation of their work," Davies said.

"For every day without settlements, the Government and councils are knowingly discriminating against these workers, who are carrying the financial burden of their employers’ discrimination and mismanagement.

"The government cannot continue abdicate all responsibility for fully funding equity across government funded service providers," said Alex Davies.

"The Government and councils get some wiggle room in their balance sheets while workers are struggling to make ends meet."

Despite sustained calls for a commitment to full funding for a renewed care and support settlement, the Government has yet to respond.

"This Human Rights Day the Government must drop the unnecessary pay equity hurdles and remember this is simply a matter of fairly honouring complex, important work," Davies said.

Meanwhile, councils have continually delayed the library workers claim, despite having years to prepare.

ENDS

The Public Ser

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The PSA is calling on disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust to stop an unlawful lockout of workers.

"Lockouts are a heavy-handed tool used by desperate employers trying to force workers to accept unpalatable conditions. Taking this action is draconian," Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.

The defective lockout notice was issued late on Wednesday after PSA members, who provide vital care to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, voted to take strike action following prolonged bargaining with the employer.

"The lock out notice is an attempt to intimidate low paid workers who are simply seeking fair treatment and basic rights at work. This is an aggressive overreaction by the employer," Fitzsimons says.

PSA lawyers have written to Te Roopu Taurima saying the lock out notice is "an attempt to impose unlawful and improper pressure" on the workers. The PSA will be seeking remedies and recovery of any money lost by workers because of the unlawful lockout.

The lockout targets Kaitaataki (house leaders for residential disability support) preventing them from working the extra hours they rely on to earn enough to support themselves and their whānau. Many of these workers are Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers.

Kaitaataki work 80 hours a fortnight, with some working additional hours to cover shifts for Kaiawhina (support workers).

Fitzsimons says the lockout is unlawful because the employer didn’t give 14 days’ notice - as required by law - and because the employer has not outlined their negotiating demands. Rather the employer has said the lockout will run until a new collective is ratified.

"The lockout will impact people being supported by PSA members. We encourage anyone who may have whānau in Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust facilities to contact the employer directly and express the support for workers caring for their loved ones."

Ends

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- A survey of public service workers finds working from home improves productivity

- 85% say it enabled them to get more work done

- 78% say it improved performance of their employer

- 85% work from home at least one day a week

The Government should step back from reining in working from home and listen to public service workers who say it is good for their productivity and the organisation they work for.

The PSA surveyed 2,700 members over November following the directive from the Government in September to establish new guidelines for working from home. It aims to inform the PSA’s feedback on Te Kawa Mataaho’s draft Flexible Work Guidance,

"Our members are saying loudly and clearly that flexible work makes a difference to their productivity which is why it should be supported and not curtailed," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This is a government that talks repeatedly about improving outcomes and wants to make decisions based on evidence. The survey is exactly that - it shows that flexible work practices are good for organisations and the outcomes the Government wants from the public service.

"We urge the Government to listen to this evidence and the considerable international research which shows that flexible work practices are now firmly established and make a difference to organisational culture and performance.

"It’s particularly worrying that even before the new guidelines have been established, the survey shows one in three workers are saying their employer is already taking steps to restrict flexible working. We know morale has been impacted by job cuts - this will not help the public service do better.

"This attack on flexible work practices is just out of step with the times - as we said at the time, the Government is making working from home a scapegoat for the damage it is inflicting on Wellington’s economy from the axing of thousands of jobs.

"Forcing public service workers back into the capital an extra day or so a week to buy a cup of coffee or sandwich won’t be a cure for the ills the Government is visiting on the local economy."

ENDS

Previous PSA statement: 24 Sept. Govt job cuts to blame for Wellington’s ills, not working from home

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Related Documents

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PSA condemns anti-worker bargaining tactics by Kaupapa Māori disability trust

Members vote for industrial action

The PSA is appalled by the largest Kaupapa Māori disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust’s proposal to introduce anti worker claims into collective bargaining.

The most alarming elements include:

• Restricting secondary employment, by proposing a clause that limits workers’ ability to take on additional jobs outside their primary employment.

• Introducing a 90-day trial period, which would allow employers to dismiss workers without cause within the first 90 days of employment. This would strip workers of their right to challenge unfair dismissals through personal grievance procedures.

These proposals are a direct attack on the rights and livelihoods of workers in the disability sector-many of whom are women, Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers, says Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Sector Lead Josh Gardner.

"These are among the most underpaid and undervalued workers, despite providing essential services that our communities rely on.

Secondary employment

For many workers in the disability sector, secondary employment is a critical source of income to meet their families’ needs amidst rising living costs. Restricting this right will cause unnecessary financial hardship.

"Shame on any employer who targets vulnerable workers. These claims not only undermine their job security but also threaten their ability to support their whānau," says Gardner.

90-day trials

The 90 days trial does not affect existing workers but PSA wants to support rangatahi into employment.

"We believe a probationary period supporting best performance is much fairer and supportive to new workers in the challenging work they do.

"We want the employers to reconsider and withdraw these claims."

Lack of recognition for leadership roles

A further source of grievance is that workers Kaitaataki roles (house leaders for residential disability support) are being paid less than many of the workers they manage when working additional hours covering those workers’ shifts

"Kaitaataki deserve to be paid for the skills and duties required in their position. When they do additional shifts to cover support workers rosters, they are paid a lower hourly rate than many of the workers they manage, as the employer has not passed on a 3% increase that was negotiated and funded for Kaiawhina (support workers)," Gardner says.

Industrial action

PSA members have overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action on Thursday, 5 December.

Industrial action will include:

• Taking of unpaid lunch breaks

• Not answering the phone out of hours (workers have been doing this unpaid in the past)

• 1 hour full withdraw labour on Thursday 12 December.

A picket will be held at Te Roopu Taurima office at 56 Kamo Road, Whangarei from noon to 12.30pm on Thursday 5 December

"Our members will not stand by while their rights and livelihoods are eroded. We call on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau trust to abandon these harmful claims and negotiate a fair deal," says Gardner

"The PSA remains committed to advocating for fair and equitable employment conditions that reflect the vital contributions of these essential front line workers who provide support to some of the most vulnerable in our communities," says Gardner.

ENDS

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Christchurch Airport firefighters will refuse to carry out a range of non-core duties following the refusal of the airport company to table a pay offer that respects their critical role.

PSA members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of limited industrial action and the union has issued a strike notice to the airport company today. This follows the breakdown in negotiations for a new three-year collective employment agreement. Negotiations have been underway since August.

The firefighters will refuse to carry out a range of duties over a 21-day period, beginning 8am Wednesday 18 December 2024 and ending 6pm Wednesday 8 January 2025.

"This situation has been forced on our members because the airport company is refusing to budge from a pay offer that is not keeping pace with inflation or recognises their valuable work," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Christchurch Airport is a very profitable employer. Underlying profit jumped 37% this year to $41.8m. Its shareholders - Christchurch City Council and the Government - received a dividend of nearly $19m.

"The airport company has the money to give firefighters a pay rise that properly respects the critical role they play in keeping passengers safe and helping the airport run smoothly.

"They work hard, firefighters maintain a 24/7 operation and live on site. Their pay needs to reflect the unusual and important nature of their work. It’s insulting that the company thinks firefighters are overpaid.

"The current offer is well below the rate of inflation. Our members went backwards in the last agreement, and they are not prepared to have their real pay further eroded at a time when costs, including mortgage rates, are still a huge burden for many.

"The PSA urges the airport company to do the right thing and make a fair pay offer."

ENDS

The industrial action includes a ban on undertaking various duties including:

- Undertaking overtime unless before or after a rostered shift

- Trial evacuations

- Spill reporting

- Recording of safety patrols, runway inspections, vehicle checks and incident reports

- Supporting wildlife staff

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The PSA is alarmed that the New Zealand Defence Force is looking to make further cuts to the critical civilian workforce in order to slash $50m from its wage bill.

NZDF told staff across its military and civilian workforce last week that it wants to cut $50m through its Workforce Savings Programme in the 2025/26 financial year as part of plans to tackle a $360m blowout in spending.

"The Government’s shameful choice to underfund defence has again been laid bare," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This puts New Zealand’s national security at risk as well as our ability to respond to disasters at home and in the Pacific - the Government is making an irresponsible and dangerous choice.

"The current industrial action has shown just how critical the civilian workforce is to the smooth operation of our defence force.

"The civilian workforce is cut to the bone right now. There has already been a damaging round of voluntary redundancies and NZDF has refused to fill important roles when civilian personnel have left.

"No amount of talking to the workforce can make these cuts right or lessen the blow to New Zealand’s national security and disaster preparedness.

"The Government is favouring tax relief for landlords over national security and a combat ready defence force supported by civilian personnel.

"The unstable geopolitical climate should be a wakeup call for a government obsessed with austerity.

"Now is not the time to undermine the defence of New Zealand. The Defence Force costs what is costs and the Government needs to front up and pay."

ENDS

Note: the PSA understands some 200 roles in the civilian workforce of around 3000 have been disestablished this year. This includes 144 voluntary redundancies and other vacant roles not being filled.

Recent statements

26 Nov. NZDF urged to end strike with fair offer for civilian workers as mediation begins

12 Nov. Minister using extraordinary power shows need for fair pay offer at NZDF as strike continues

16 Sept. Industrial action looms as NZDF refuses pay rise for civilian workers

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Proposed cuts to Māori and Pacific health services will result in poorer health outcomes for those communities, the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi says.

The proposals to cut 246 roles comes as Health NZ undertakes major change following a government directive to cut health budgets. Just this week, this has already seen the potential loss of more than 1500 health roles, some of which have remained vacant.

Māori health team within National Public Health Service (NPHS)

• It is proposed the entire team dedicated to Māori health within the NPHS being disestablished
• 32 roles proposed to go
• Roles impacted include health promotion and prevention

Hauora Māori Health Services

• This service was "lifted and shifted" into Te Whatu Ora following the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority/ Te Aka Whai Ora
• Previously 367 roles including vacancies were at the Hauora Māori Health Service
• Roles have remained vacant following a "sinking lid" policy on hiring
• 131 roles are proposed to be disestablished, leaving 236 roles in this important area

The cuts to health promotion and prevention are concerning, particularly as the country battles with a whooping cough epidemic, and increased smoking rates, PSA health spokesperson Sue McCullough says.

"These are the people who support you and your whānau with immunisation or help you stop smoking," McCullough says.

"At yesterday’s announcement, PSA members who work in this area were incredibly upset by this decision. Promotion and prevention are essential to the wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

"The reason Health NZ has given for disestablishing Māori workers within the National Public Health Service is ‘duplication’ of roles, but in many cases it's duplication of job titles.

"Different directorates have the same job titles, but the work is very different. When these directorates merge, they call it duplication, but the roles are not always the same. "Generic job titles lead to misunderstandings about the nature of the work. There's an assumption about what people do.

"It’s brutal and careless.

"It has been framed as an ‘improvement’ to Māori health, but it’s disingenuous. It’s cost cutting. Plain and simple. The members know it’s not about improving services."

Pacific Health in National Public Health

• Proposal to reduce 43.1 roles to 10.5 roles (32 roles)

Pacific Health Service

• 50.8 FTE roles proposed to be disestablished. Staff in disestablished roles can apply for new or combined roles. Staffing numbers reduced from 158.2 roles to 99.4 roles
• Those roles providing critical administration support, health commissioning - including programme delivery - and planning, funding and outcomes will be impacted the most.
• $12.2 million budget reduction from $162.2 million to $150 million (7.5% reduction).
• Reduced size and slowed programme delivery for 12 months, particularly for Health Science Academies, shifting to a partnership model.

"These cuts are expected to harm Pacific Communities and significantly impact the future of the Pacific health workforce. Any cuts to Pacific Services will have a significant impact on people and communities," McCullough says.

"It’s proposed core funding and contracting will be given to regional teams that will be reduced in size. Programmes, delivering critical health care to Pacific communities will be either slowed or stopped.

"Again, these cuts have been made to meet a budget, rather than the need of communities. These cuts will cause harm to Pacific communities," McCullough says.

"These decisions should be about having the community’s best interests at heart, rather than dollars and cents. It is vital we continue to fund and staff Pacific health services properly to ensure not only current but future generations remain healthy."

ENDS

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Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins is further delaying reforms of the science sector, and ignoring pleas from the science community for resolutions, says science advocacy group Save Science Coalition.

"The Minister is asleep at the wheel", says Save Science Coalition spokesperson Dr Lucy Stewart.

"Parties from across the political spectrum agree that there are big issues in the science system that need to be addressed, but we are seeing ongoing delays and non-response from the Minister."

The Science System Advisory Group, set up by Minister Collins to advise on improving the science system was due to give its initial report in July. A second report was expected in October. Neither report has been released.

In the meantime more than 500 roles have been cut, or proposed to be cut, within the science sector, and this number continues to grow.

"This is leading to an irreplaceable loss of skilled scientists from New Zealand," Dr Stewart says.

"The Government appears more focused on cuts and chaos than developing comprehensive solutions in an area which is vital to our society and economy."

The Save Science Coalition wrote to Minister Collins in October, and again in early November, but to date has received no response.

"This is extremely disappointing, given that we are approaching the Minister as representatives of a large proportion of the science community in New Zealand.

"We are concerned that the problems identified with the science system, are only being exacerbated by the ongoing cuts we are seeing in the sector while the Minister continually deprioritises, delays, defers, and ignores," says Stewart.

"This will make any outcomes of the Science System Advisory Group more difficult to implement, and more difficult to get value from.

"Only last week, a group of economists raised concern that the Government’s lack of investment is prolonging the recession in New Zealand. We know that countries that invest more in research and development see far greater returns for their economy - not to mention the value of public good science - the return on the investment for society that cannot always be measured in monetary terms.

"New Zealand is continuing to miss out, while the Minister appears to be unwilling to listen or to act.

"The Save Science Coalition call on Minister Collins to engage with the science community, stop the cuts, support mātauranga Māori, and improve funding for New Zealand’s science system to create a more prosperous country for all. But first of all - we call on the Minister to front up and release the report."

ENDS

Context:

The Save Science Coalition was set up in May this year and completed a report documenting the cuts to science funding and staffing which was released in July this year. The group is now working on an updated report, to be released before the end of the year.

The Save Science Coalition’s goals are:

- to oppose cuts to science funding and science staff across government institutions

- to highlight and catalogue what is being lost through the current cuts

- to defend support for world-leading indigenous research including mātauranga Māori

- to make the case for a foundation of support for public science and re-committing to a target of 2% of GDP to be invested in research and development in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Current Save Science Coalition member organisations are:

- New Zealand Association of Scientists

- Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

- Tertiary Education Union

- Academic Freedom Aotearoa

- NZ Society of Endocrinology

- NZ Ecological Society

- Council of Trade Unions

- Physiological Society of New Zealand

- New Zealand Institute of Forestry

- New Zealand Geoscience Society

- Aviation and Marine Engineers Association

- New Zealand Institute of Chemistry

- NZEI Te Riu Roa

- Te Manatōpū Mātai Koiora Moroiti | The New Zealand Microbiological Society

- New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society - Ngā Kohinga Wai o Aotearoa

- Genomics for Aotearoa New Zealand

- Entomological Society of New Zealand

- Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand

- France Aotearoa Science Technology and !nnovation (FAST!)

- New Zealand Society of Plant Biologists

- Association for Women in the Sciences

- New Zealand Marine Sciences Society

- New Zealand Plant Protection Society

- New Zealand Geographical Society

- New Zealand Mathematical Society

- New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

- Rivers Group

- Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand

- Aotearoa Brain Project

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The PSA is urging NZDF to finally show civilian workers the respect they deserve and provide a fair pay offer during mediation which begins tomorrow.

"It’s high time NZDF made an offer that properly respects the vital work of civilian staff in keeping our country safe," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This dispute has dragged on for too long and damaged the morale of civilian workers - this is the second round of mediation, and the PSA urges NZDF to do the right thing."

PSA members who are civilian workers escalated industrial action recently after NZDF refused to budge from a zero-pay rise offered during negotiations for a new collective agreement.

This triggered a rare use of powers by the Minister of Defence this month in approving the military undertaking the work of striking civilian workers, a power not used since 2001.

"This extraordinary step proves that the military can’t operate without civilian personnel, which is why the original zero-pay offer was so insulting.

"The PSA urges NZDF to revisit its refusal to budge before it inflicts lasting damage on the civilian workforce and the capability of our military.

"The longer this drags on, the more likely NZDF will lose more skilled civilian workers when it’s already facing critical shortages.

"It’s time for an offer the recognises the simple fact that civilian staff, like those in uniform, do important work and like them are facing the same pressures on their household budget from the rising cost of living. It’s only fair."

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Cuts hit campaigns to keep Kiwi healthy and data support for health care

• Net 1120 roles to be axed from Data and Digital group - 47% of workforce
• Net 358 roles to go from National Public Health Service - 24% of workforce
• Cuts include advisors helping people quit smoking

The health of New Zealanders will suffer because of the Government’s plan to axe nearly 1500 roles at Te Whatu Ora, coming at a time when the public health system is already under severe pressure.

The latest proposal announced to staff today impact the Data and Digital group responsible for managing outdated IT systems. and the National Public Health Service which promotes immunisation, prepares for health emergencies, and gets people to quit smoking.

"This is another shameful attack on an already stretched public health system that will end up hurting the health of all New Zealanders," said Ashok Shankar, National Health Sector Lead, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Every day New Zealanders are experiencing a health system that is failing to give them the care and support they need - these cuts will only make that worse.

"The Government has chosen to prioritise billions of dollars in tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco, rather than investing where the real need is - improving the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. Its priorities are all wrong."

The cuts announced today include some 700 roles vacant because of the recruitment freeze. This comes on top of 1748 roles already cut by the Government this year by axing roles and voluntary redundancies (480 accepted to date). All up, if this latest proposal goes ahead, the Government would have shed 3226 health roles.

Data and Digital

The Data and Digital group plays a key role in integrating the various IT systems managed by the District Health Boards, ensuring that antiquated systems can still function.

"We already spend far less than other countries on public health IT systems - yet the Government chose to axe $400 million from Te Whatu Ora IT projects in this year’s Budget, and now a further $100 million is being cut.

"These cuts mean Te Whatu Ora will only do the bare minimum, putting band-aids on an already failing system and not proceeding with planned upgrades.

"The promise of the health reforms, including a modern fit for purpose IT system that delivers accurate data on patients to clinicians no matter where in the country, is being scuttled by these short-sighted cuts," said Ashok Shankar.

"A seamless IT system would have accelerated access to critical patient information, now we are going back to the past - the chaotic post code system where your treatment at a hospital depended on where you lived.

National Public Health Service

"It beggars belief that the National Public Health Service is planning to cut one in four roles at the very moment when we are battling a whooping cough epidemic which hits Māori and Pasifika babies particularly hard," said Ashok Shankar.

"Specifically, Te Whatu Ora plans to cut dedicated Māori and Pacific public health advisors who drive health promotion strategies targeting the unique needs of Māori and Pacific populations.

"The health system largely focuses on healing people after they get sick. But the National Public Health Service is one of the only areas focused on helping people to not get sick in the first place. Cuts to health promotion can only lead to worse health outcomes and more pressure on the system in the long run.

"The cuts also undermine the great progress New Zealand has made in reducing smoking rates by significantly downsizing the dedicated Smokefree teams. For example, Te Whatu Ora plans to cut a net nine roles from Auckland’s team of Smokefree practitioners. They provide various services helping people quit smoking, including telephone counselling, group therapy and education support.

"Cutting Smokefree experts means that fewer people will be supported to quit. More people will suffer the severe long term health impacts associated with smoking - which will also be a huge financial burden on the health system in years to come.

"New Zealanders deserve better than these planned cuts which do nothing to improve access to health care or the health and wellbeing of people," said Ashok Shankar.

ENDS

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The PSA is urging NZDF to finally show civilian workers the respect they deserve and provide a fair pay offer during mediation which begins tomorrow.

"It’s high time NZDF made an offer that properly respects the vital work of civilian staff in keeping our country safe," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This dispute has dragged on for too long and damaged the morale of civilian workers - this is the second round of mediation, and the PSA urges NZDF to do the right thing."

PSA members who are civilian workers escalated industrial action recently after NZDF refused to budge from a zero-pay rise offered during negotiations for a new collective agreement.

This triggered a rare use of powers by the Minister of Defence this month in approving the military undertaking the work of striking civilian workers, a power not used since 2001.

"This extraordinary step proves that the military can’t operate without civilian personnel, which is why the original zero-pay offer was so insulting.

"The PSA urges NZDF to revisit its refusal to budge before it inflicts lasting damage on the civilian workforce and the capability of our military.

"The longer this drags on, the more likely NZDF will lose more skilled civilian workers when it’s already facing critical shortages.

"It’s time for an offer the recognises the simple fact that civilian staff, like those in uniform, do important work and like them are facing the same pressures on their household budget from the rising cost of living. It’s only fair."

Previous statements on NZDF strike action

12 November Minister using extraordinary power shows need for fair pay offer at NZDF as strike continues

30 October Industrial action escalates as NZDF refuses to budge on zero pay rise

ENDS

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The public’s ability to access a range of historical information and educational resources in a timely and efficient way will be undermined by job losses stemming from the proposed merger of Archives NZ and the National Library.

The plan announced to staff today could result in the net loss of 27 roles. This includes librarians, curators, archives advisors and other experienced staff who undertake a vital job maintaining New Zealand’s historical records collected by government agencies dating from 1840.

"These two institutions carry out critical work for all New Zealanders, yet the Government is ploughing ahead with cuts to jobs that will again impact a frontline service thousands of New Zealanders rely on accessing every week," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"It’s another in a long line of broken promises."

Archives NZ collects a variety of information including court records, citizenship files, police and prison records, artworks, films, maps, plans and health, mental health and welfare records.

"With fewer staff, the public will face delays in accessing information. Backlogs will grow and much vital work that relies on accessing these historical records will be impacted.

"The public will often go to Archives with time-sensitive requests for legal/civil processes. For example, if someone needs to access their divorce record from archives to prove marital status, it could delay applications for pensions, impact re-marrying, or the processing of wills.

"The Government promised to lift literacy rates, but again these cuts are undermining its own policy. Librarians in Reading Services for Schools in the National Library are being reduced. They do important work liaising with teachers and source reading material to help students to achieve.

"You can’t get more frontline than that.

"Archives NZ also audits public service agencies to ensure they are abiding by legislative requirements for record keeping. With fewer people to do this work, its ability to check agencies are doing what is required is another casualty of the merger.

"This announcement again underlines the reckless nature of so many of the Government’s cuts. They need to stop before more lasting damage is done."

ENDS

Previous statement on cuts to funding of the digitisation programme at Archives NZ

Access denied: Government must fund online access to public records

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The PSA is backing calls from a group of respected economists for the Government to halt its damaging spending cuts programme which they say is helping to prolong the recession.

The economists, drawn from universities, unions and the private sector, are calling on the Government to urgently revisit its fiscal policy stating the economic rationale for spending cuts and deferral of key infrastructure projects was ‘unclear’.

"The Government’s ideological obsession with cutting spending regardless of the consequences is again being exposed for what it really is - reckless and rushed," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The cuts have caused deep harm to individuals and their families not just because of the brutal job losses which psychologically destroy people but because people see the important work they were doing not getting done.

"The economists correctly state that government spending and infrastructure investment was already failing to keep pace with population and demographic changes.

"The Government in just one year has laid off thousands of public service workers around the country and severely cut spending across the public service.

"It is done this with no thought as to the vital work these workers and agencies carry out to support New Zealanders and grow our economy.

"We are losing skilled workers, many with decades of experience - scientists, social workers, environmental experts, policy analysts, Māori advisors, health specialists, online harm experts and many others.

"This hollowing out of the public service means we are undermining our ability to meet the serious challenges we face from climate change, rising health costs, the infrastructure deficit and our ageing population.

"The Government should heed the lessons of the past. Austerity never works.

"The economists are right - the Government is blind to the consequences of its fiscal policy which will damage New Zealand for generations to come."

Read the letter to the Prime Minister from economists

ENDS

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The Government is again turning its back on improving health outcomes for Māori with Pharmac’s decision to axe the three year old Māori advisory group - Te Rōpū.

Pharmac only established Te Rōpū in 2021 after a damning independent review of the agency and health outcomes for Māori, Pacific and people with disabilities. The decision was announced by the new Pharmac Chair and former National Deputy PM Paula Bennett.

"This is another sad indictment of the priority the National-led Government places on improving the health of Māori," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association.

"It ignores all the evidence that specialist advice is exactly what Pharmac wanted to ensure it did better at delivering the health solutions tailored to Māori needs."

The eight member Te Rōpū included doctors, pharmacists, researchers, and directors.

"These are medical specialists providing timely and expert advice. After just three years, how can that still not be an incredibly valuable service for Pharmac?

"But Pharmac didn’t even bother to consult Te Rōpū. Again, the Government has taken a decision based on ideology which fundamentally impacts Māori without consulting Māori. This is simply insulting to Māori.

"This also comes on top of the Government directing Pharmac not to consider te Tiriti in its funding decisions.

"The decision continues the Government’s health agenda to deprioritise Māori health following the abolition of Te Aka Whai Ora despite evidence from public health experts that it was needed.

"Across the public service, we are seeing the Government overriding its legal obligations under te Tiriti and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that previous governments embraced.

"All government agencies have been directed to ensure public services must be delivered by need and not race. Specialist Māori advisors have been axed across Ministries and agencies.

"The Pharmac decision just continues this destructive agenda of the Government at a time when Māori remain disadvantaged across so many leading indicators. It’s wrong."

ENDS

‍

The PSA is calling on Minister of Defence Judith Collins to ensure NZDF comes to the table with a fresh offer to resolve the pay dispute with civilian workers.

This follows the Minister using a rare power to approve the Armed Forces undertaking the work of striking civilian workers, a power not used since 2001.

"This an extraordinary move and will do nothing to improve morale among civilian workers which is already at rock bottom following the zero-pay rise offer," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

PSA members who are civilian workers escalated industrial action last week after NZDF refused to budge from a zero-pay rise offered during negotiations for a new collective agreement (see past statement below).

"The Minister has resorted to replacing some striking workers in the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Service and in the Security Guard Services with members of the Armed Forces, this shows just how important and valuable these civilian staff are.

"The military clearly could not operate without civilian personnel, which is why the zero-pay offer is insulting.

"NZDF urgently needs to start valuing civilian workers just like those in uniform. They deserve recognition and respect.

"That’s why the Minister needs to ensure that NZDF comes to the table with an offer that reflects the increased cost of living and the critical value of these civilian staff to the defence of the country."

There are strict provisions in the Employment Relations Act 2000 about when and how employers can replace striking workers. The PSA is seeking urgent legal advice about whether this rare step is even lawful.

"This is an attempt to undermine the impact of the strike, but it also shows the strike action is working.

"This move simply hardens our resolve to get a fair deal for our members who are doing it tough like so many," said Fleur Fitzsimons.

Previous statement on NZDF strike action

30 October Industrial action escalates as NZDF refuses to budge on zero pay rise

ENDS

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The Government today finalised plans to axe a further 310 roles at Kāinga Ora, jobs focused on driving the construction of homes for low-income families.

This makes a total of 551 roles lost since April 2024, or one in six workers across the country. A third of the workforce is in Auckland.

"This is a sad day for these dedicated and skilled workers and a sad day for the proud tradition of the state putting a roof over the heads of those needing secure, healthy homes," said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Kāinga Ora has been a success story, housing thousands of families in new builds - now we have no plan B. The need is not going away, and we have no detail on how the gap is going to be filled by community housing providers.

"This is just more evidence of the Government rushing its decisions to suit its ideological obsession with small government without consideration of the consequences for those who need a helping hand.

"This will mean more uncertainty for those struggling to find a home, particularly Māori whānau. Currently Kāinga Ora’s tenants are approximately 36% Māori, and 40% are children.

"Many Māori rely on the state providing homes which is a clear obligation under Te Tiriti. Again, as we have seen with cuts to other public services which support Māori needs, the Government is happy to walk away from this obligation."

People losing their jobs are those critical to the planning, design and construction of social houses, like architects, technical advisors, project coordinators, urban designers, spatial planners, and quality assurance experts.

"These workers should be proud of their efforts in providing modern homes for those who need them most," said Duane Leo. "They made a difference.

"Now social housing faces an uncertain future as the Government turns back the clock and embraces the failed outsourcing policy of the past."

Background - what is happening at Kāinga Ora?

Hundreds of planned Kāinga Ora houses are on ice as the Government shifts back to a focus on community-provided social housing.

The restructure sees all housing delivery and support functions consolidated into one new Housing Delivery Group. This reflects the plan to streamline construction planning and reduce the number of new houses built. This will fall from 4800 this year (an additional 3500), to only 420 additional new houses in 2026 plus 1600 renewals and retrofits of existing homes. There are still 22,000 people on the waiting list for a home.

ENDS

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Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s attack on the neutrality of a health official is outrageous and shows again how this Government is fearful of advice it doesn’t like.

"Publicly attacking a public servant for giving advice that you disagree with is unacceptable within our democratic system," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Officials are there to give robust advice so Ministers can carefully weigh all the evidence and make good decisions.

"In this case, the official with expertise in this matter was simply doing the job expected of her by taxpayers. She was pointing out the flaws in evidence the Minister herself provided to justify a $200 million tax break for tobacco companies.

"Taxpayers rightly expect officials to provide robust advice and evidence and challenge Ministers. It’s how our system works.

"Of course, Ministers have a right to reject that advice, but publicly attacking an official undermines a core principle that officials must be able to give free and frank advice to enable good decision-making."

The Public Service Act 2020 makes that principle for officials very clear – ‘when giving advice to Ministers, to do so in a free and frank manner’, so that the public service can deliver on its purpose of supporting ‘constitutional and democratic government’.

"The Minister talks about the need for officials to hold to ‘public sector standards of integrity and political neutrality’ - that is exactly what this official was doing," said Kerry Davies.

"Here we have an inexperienced Minister intimidating officials because she is simply unhappy with their advice. That is wrong.

"The Government promised to base decisions on evidence, but it has consistently ignored the advice and evidence presented to it by officials when Ministers didn’t like it.

"But this Minister has now gone a step too far and her public attack will have a chilling effect on officials. How is that good for our democracy?

"The PSA will be writing to the incoming Public Service Commissioner to express our strong concerns."

ENDS

‍

• Nine out of 10 workers say change will increase risks to them and clients
• Two out of three workers not confident workplace can manage risks
• Nine out of 10 workers say change will add to already heavy workloads

Mental health workers fear serious harm to themselves, their clients and members of the public from the withdrawal of police support for mental health call outs, a PSA survey shows.

The phased withdrawal of police from responding to mental health callouts begins today. This includes police staying in EDs for a maximum of 60 minutes, falling to 15 minutes.

"Mental health workers are saying loud and clear the implementation of the change is profoundly unsafe and that the risks of serious harm to them, the people in their care and the public are very high," said Ashok Shankar, Health Lead for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"We are calling on Te Whatu Ora and the police to delay this change until we can be reassured it can be done safely. Our members are at the frontline of this change, they know the risks, so it’s extremely disappointing that their views to date have been ignored.

"It’s high time both the Health and Mental Health Ministers step in before real harm is caused."

Te Whatu Ora is failing to properly plan for the transition to the new regime despite months of consultation. Our members are not getting the extra training they deserve to adjust to the change.

"One highly experienced mental health worker, who leads a team, said he only received a raft of documents explaining changes to operating procedures 10 days out from the 4 November start date.

‘These changes are going to add to the burden of what we endure now’, he said. He warned Te Whatu Ora that ‘patients, the public and staff will be injured, maimed and no doubt die in response to these changes and the poor planning and resourcing that goes with it’.

Ashok Shankar said: "Mental health crisis teams are already under extreme stress - workloads are as heavy as they have ever been, yet the Government is allowing even more pressure to pile on overstretched teams.

"Te Whatu Ora needs to expand mental health teams and provide additional training, if required, so they can safely pick up the burden of taking over from the police.

"But the hiring freeze and the Government’s failure to properly fund Te Whatu Ora is making a dire situation that much worse.

"The survey shows members expect time taken to see people in distress will increase. It will mean those with less urgent needs will wait even longer as more urgent cases are prioritised. Their health outcomes are being put at risk. That’s just not acceptable when we already have a mental health crisis in this country.

"Mental health should be a priority - all of us want the best outcome for the people and their families facing challenges, but this process of police handover feels botched from the get-go - patients and workers may pay a heavy price," said Ashok Shankar.

‍ENDS

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Summary of findings from PSA survey (attached summary graphs)The survey was taken between 8 and 22 October 2024 and sent to 6,151 members who work in mental health. It attracted 438 responses. The margin of error is 5% at a 95% confidence interval.

• 66% of workers say they are not confident in the ability of their workplace to manage risk. Only 12% are confident.
• 38% disagree or strongly disagree that their workplace has a process in place to assess risk in mental health response
• 88% say it will increase safety risk for clients
• 91% say it will increase safety risk for workers
• 86% say it risks increasing workloads
• 72% say it risks increasing the time taken to see people

Sample of quotes from survey of mental health workers

‍"I can understand the pressures that the police service are under and the reasons they want to withdraw, however there is no alternative in place so this just leaves a dangerous void in the process and I would not be surprised if there is an increase in incidents and possibly even lives being at risk."

"I do not understand how an 111 operator with just one days training in mental health could over rule the registered mental health professional decision who could be facing an client and made a risk assessment."

"Police are the only ones who can detain under the Act, and therefore, a withdrawal of their support when requested means more people will go without treatment, more people will fall off the act, the more people with become unwell, and the more mental health patients will end up in Police custody"

"As a staff member I am left wondering of we will be safe and whether we will have to argue with police comms to get officers to respond to a danger to life. Having the building smashed up is scary enough but risk to staff, clients and the public is even worse."

"I think it is appropriate. My only concern is if Police take it upon themselves to determine if a person is mentally disordered or not. It could open the gate for police to deliver people to ED who are socially problematic but do not meet a criminal offense threshold. Would not want to see ED inappropriately burdened with these people. Perhaps police liaison nurses, based with Police would be a better use of a resource."

"The withdrawal of police at mental health jobs ultimately shows a failure in resource division at the national government level."

"I feel sorry for the police, but our system is in crisis. I am actually returning to work at present after being knocked out by a patient and having several months off with a nasty concussion. I don't want this to happen again to myself or any other staff. I am lucky that I did not suffer a more serious injury."

"We are feeling very anxious about the safety of both ourselves and the patients and families involved with the withdrawal process. While we understand that we have the right to refuse and walk away, doing so may leave families at risk with individuals who are very unwell."

"It makes me reconsider my career choices. Do I really want to be in a front-line role where I have to justify my requests for assistance by Police in writing to non-health professionals with limited training in assessing mental health risk?"

"The most important change that could be made is for us to have more staff, skilled staff rather than inexperienced ones that we have to spend time teaching when there already is too much to do in terms of clinical assessments."

The Government will significantly set back Māori- Crown relations by pushing ahead with plans to gut Te Arawhiti and transfer key functions to Te Puni Kōkiri.

Proposals unveiled to staff today would see staff numbers slashed by around 43% with 44 roles moving to Te Puni Kōkiri. The PSA understands a further 51 roles are proposed to be axed from Te Arawhiti from the remaining workforce of 170. Eight new roles are proposed to be established.

Te Arawhiti - the Office for Māori Crown Relations will focus on its legislative functions to progress settlements under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act. Te Puni Kōkiri will take over the post Treaty settlement implementation function and other functions.

"These changes will have a significant impact on the future of Māori-Crown relations and the essential work of Te Arawhiti with Iwi Māori across Aotearoa," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association.

"Te Arawhiti is left doing important work but will have far fewer people to carry out these vital functions, which flies in the face of the Government’s commitments to progressing Treaty settlements.

"The Government promised to listen to the evidence, but again it’s ignoring the advice of those working at the heart of Māori Crown relations."

Documents released under the Official Information Act show Te Arawhiti Chief Executive Lil Anderson warned the Government in July that the benefits of the reducing overlap between Te Arawhiti and Te Puni Kōkori were ‘ overstated’.

"She went on to say the proposal ‘ would risk government failure to achieve its Treaty settlements and Takutai Moana programme’ and that ‘ the risk of breaching contractual settlement commitments significantly increases if Treaty settlement implementation is separated from negotiating settlements’.

"This shows how flawed the plan is. The whole point of Te Arawhiti was to be a one stop shop for accelerating treaty settlements, supporting Māori in the future so Treaty settlement commitments were implemented and strengthening the public service capability around the Treaty.

"As the CE of Te Arawhiti points out, the splitting off of functions means Te Arawhiti will lose the connection it had with the teams getting the settlements agreed and the context behind them. How is that efficient?

"Given the importance of this mahi to Iwi Māori, how are the Crown’s obligations to Māori being recognised in this transfer of functions? It’s critical that the Crown’s commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi are upheld throughout this process and that Iwi are engaged with and listened to.

"The Crown has a responsibility to ensure that Iwi and Māori are not disadvantaged by these changes, and that they continue to receive the support they are entitled to.

"The PSA urges the Government to approach this transfer with care and a real commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We can’t afford to lose the progress that’s been made, nor can we ignore the significant role that Te Arawhiti has played in fostering positive, enduring relationships with Iwi Māori," said Janice Panoho.

ENDS

Note: This page was updated at 4:40pm, Friday 1 November. Originally it said 42 roles are to be axed, and 40% of total roles would be cut from Te Arawhiti (including those moving to Te Puni Kōkiri). The figures were updated as new information came to light.

‍

The stubborn refusal of NZDF to lift pay for civilian workers will spark another round of industrial action by PSA members beginning next week.

Further bargaining for a new collective agreement has failed to budge NZDF from its zero-increase position. As a result, members have voted overwhelmingly to reject the offer and to escalate industrial action. The current industrial action legally must end on Thursday.

"NZDF is insulting the thousands of dedicated civilian workers who, like the men and women in uniform, are keeping our country safe from threats, but in the eyes of NZDF are second class citizens who don’t deserve a pay rise," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This stubborn refusal to increase the zero-pay rise offer shows how little NZDF respects and values its civilian workers who like many are doing it tough in a cost-of-living crisis. It leaves our members with no choice but to send another strong message that this position is unacceptable."

PSA members are already working to rule and refusing overtime and callouts (unless life preserving services as required). Members will now initiate further industrial action on top of this beginning 9am Wednesday 6 November. Kauri Point (Auckland) members, who load and unload ships, will join them on 20 November. This may include a refusal to work in certain circumstances and an escalation of actions. The action ends on 31 January.

"NZDF doesn’t seem to care that its refusal to budge on pay for civilian staff will keep undermining morale. Workloads are already increasing through its current voluntary redundancy programme as it seeks to cut $30m from spending. Forced redundancies may also follow.

"All this will prompt more to consider leaving at a time when the Defence Force is facing critical worker shortages.

"The Government promised no impacts on the frontline from its spending cuts.

"Make no mistake, these cuts will impact the ability of NZDF to deliver on its stated mission to ‘secure the country against external threats’. There is nothing more frontline than that. We urge NZDF to reconsider," said Duane Leo.

ENDS

Previous statement

16 Sept: Industrial action looms as NZDF refuses pay rise for civilian workers

ENDS

‍

- Workplace Inspectors to lose vital support

- Net 40 roles proposed to go

- Cuts follow 113 jobs axed last November

The critical job of WorkSafe to save lives and reduce injuries will be undermined by its latest proposed restructure, the PSA warns.

WorkSafe, the workplace health and safety regulator, is consulting staff on the second major restructure in a year which proposes to axe 180 roles. While some new roles will be created this would still result in a net loss of 40 roles and follows 113 roles being axed last November.

A range of roles are being cut - health specialists, advisors, researchers, evaluators and legal kaimahi who support WorkSafe inspectors and whose role is to educate businesses, provide assessment support to workplaces and protect workers from poor health and safety practices.

"This is a flawed plan which strips WorkSafe of critical roles. This will undermine the ability of frontline WorkSafe inspectors to do their vital work, so workers return home safe and healthy," said Duane Leo Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Once again, we see the fiction of the Government’s promise of no impacts on the frontline. It’s another broken promise.

"We already have a poor health and safety record in this country with a fatality rate double that of Australia. The Government should be investing more not less in this critical agency.

"It’s a huge concern that the health team is being downsized with the loss of specialist skills. This team is relatively new and was playing a key role in dealing with a range of issues in the workplace like mental health.

"We know stress in the workplace is growing. 12% of suicides are work related, and there are some 5000 hospitalisations each year due to work-related ill-health. Managing health risks should be a priority, not downsizing a team playing a vital role at a time when work-related health risks are higher than safety risks.

"WorkSafe is also proposing to increase the numbers of inspectors but by not nearly enough to meet the high turnover already and well below that of Australia, hampering our ability to make serious inroads into our appalling safety record.

"The changes proposed will only pile more work on the shoulders of inspectors.

"For example, under this proposal, cuts to the legal team will force inspectors to spend more time gathering documents to support prosecutions. This risks undermining the ability of WorkSafe to properly hold offenders to account.

"This is a return to the failed approach of the past; inspectors will be bogged down by paperwork once again when they need to be supported by a solid team of specialists.

"It makes no sense that this is all happening when the Government has yet to complete its review of the health and safety system - why not wait and get it right once and for all?

"Yet again, we are seeing the Government putting the bottom line first, favouring tax breaks for landlords and big tobacco over investing in a frontline agency that saves lives," said Duane Leo.

ENDS

Previous PSA WorkSafe releases:

-14 April 2024 More WorkSafe cuts will put workers’ health and safety at risk

-3 November 2023 Sad day for workplace safety as job losses confirmed for WorkSafe

‍

More than 10,000 workers, including PSA members, gathered across the motu to fight back together against government cuts to public, health and community services and attacks on Te Tiriti.

PSA members stood shoulder to shoulder with workers from other unions at hui in Whangārei, Auckland, Manukau, Hamilton, Mt Maunganui, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

The New Zealand Council of Trade unions led organisation of the Fight Back Together hui with the support of many its affiliated unions.

Speaking before a 4,500 strong crowd at Parliament Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said that workers demand, "better investment in public and social infrastructure, public services, health and education" so New Zealanders’ standard of living improves.

"That’s what this is all about. It’s about a decent quality of life for all of us. It’s about an education system where every child reaches their potential," she said.

"It’s about a health system where we … and our families get the health care we need.

"It’s about an Aotearoa New Zealand that upholds the provision of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

"It’s about an Aotearoa New Zealand that values public servants and the public services they deliver for all of us."

More than 6000 public servants, many PSA members, have lost their jobs under the government’s cuts. Fitzsimons said public servants including those in public health, public science and those protecting our borders have been impacted by the cuts.

Fitzsimons described the cuts as "shameful".

"[Public servants] know their work is important and it now won’t get done."

PSA National Secretary Duane Leo said the 3500-strong crowd at Auckland’s Aotea Square was vibrant and colourful.

"People were happy to be there speaking up. It’s about time we started to do this," he said.

"We need to change course and value and invest in our public services; for our future, for all Kiwis, and abandon this backward road to nowhere."

ENDS

‍

About 450 health workers both on the front line and in essential supporting roles will take voluntary redundancy, with more job losses expected as government budget cuts continue to bite, the PSA says.

And PSA members are reporting that amongst the approximately 450 redundancies there are a substantial number who were given voluntary redundancy even though their redundancy applications were not approved by their line managers.

This occurred because senior management overturned line managers’ decisions. Amongst this group are many front-line hospital workers, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Organiser Ashok Shankar says.

"While line managers know they can’t afford to lose staff, job cuts are continuing at any cost," Shankar says.

Redundancies impact frontline staff in hospitals and specialist services, and essential support staff in planning and funding, and national public health.

"The redundancy process has been done irrespective of the impacts on service delivery. The data shows essential workers will be impacted. This means public health, safety and wellbeing will be impacted too. It also shows the health sector can’t afford to lose these essential people and if the government wishes to keep the nation healthy, cuts need to stop.

A hiring freeze is also negatively impacting those who remain in health employment. Positions have been left vacant and remaining staff are picking up the shortfall, working unpaid overtime, and skipping breaks and meals. Clinical staff are concerned that loss of these workers on the frontline will impact their ability to deliver care.

Shankar says the situation is unsustainable.

"Redundancies mean remaining staff are heading towards burnout and this poses a threat to public health and safety.

"The staffing cuts are impacting essential services and it’s not too late for the government to reverse its decision on health cuts.

"A lack of staff a poses a real and imminent threat to public health and safety. It is clear fatigue, and frustration are growing, and the burden of this is weighing heavily not just on health workers, but also communities.

"It’s been a difficult time for the health sector, and for those who have dedicated their lives to caring for our communities. Their work is vital for the health, wellbeing and safety of all New Zealanders.

"The community has already started to feel the effect of these cuts, but there is more to come. We are at breaking point in more ways than one. A strong, robust, well-staffed health sector is vital for not only the imminent future, but for the future generations of Aotearoa.

"We implore the government to change its perspective on its cuts to health," Shankar says.

By the numbers:

• Total number of expressions of interest received across the sector: approximately 860
• Total number of voluntary redundancies accepted to date: approximately 450

ENDS

‍

The Auditor General’s inquiry into Oranga Tamariki’s cuts to funding community services must go further with the axe hanging over social service providers funded by other government agencies.

"The inquiry is welcome as this was a botched and heartless process which impacted critical support for children, flying in the face of the Government’s promise that its cuts would not hit the frontline," said Melissa Woolley, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Oranga Tamariki was blind to the damage inflicted on tamariki, rangatahi and whānau from this rushed cut to contracts. In many cases there was no evidence to justify contracts being axed or funding being reduced.

"Oranga Tamariki failed to communicate with providers, many of which had built up services over many years. There was little warning, and they had salt rubbed into their wounds by the Minister for Children, claiming many were abusing the funds, labelling Oranga Tamariki a ‘cash cow’ for them. They deserved better."

The sudden and deep cuts left many of those providing the services scrambling to make ends meet, resulting in job losses and the loss of critical support for many.

"Many of our members including social workers now face losing their jobs, or hours being cut, and at a time of a cost-of-living crisis, many were already struggling to make ends meet.

"These workers take pride in the difference they make to lives of the young every day. They care deeply about the children and whānau in their care. They too deserved better.

"The Government’s drive to cut spending is impacting the whole funded sector - other community providers supporting various social services receive funding from agencies like the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health. We know many are facing cuts which we believe are poorly thought through just like Oranga Tamariki.

"The PSA urges the Auditor General to expand the scope if his inquiry before more damage is inflicted on providers and their workers who are doing the mahi to improve the health and wellbeing of so many in our community.

"The blame must ultimately be sheeted home to the Government which has embarked on this cost cutting campaign with little regard to the consequences," said Melissa Woolley.

ENDS

Other recent PSA media releases on this issue:

3 September: Govt cuts mean Salvation Army frontline workers face axe

7 August: Minister’s statement about community providers false and offensive

‍

The PSA hopes the new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche will be a good advocate for the value of the public service in supporting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

The PSA congratulates Sir Brian on his appointment. He has taken on this role at a very challenging time when the public service has been eroded by the Government through spending cuts and job losses.

The PSA looks forward to having a constructive relationship with Sir Brian to ensure the public service is recognised for the great work it does.

Through his long and distinguished service in many roles, he knows the value public service workers bring to issues. He has worked with governments in the past which have continued to build the public service so it can meet our challenges as a nation.

We hope he brings to the role the courage to remind Ministers of the critical role that the public service plays.

Te Kawa Mataaho, the Public Service Commission, has provided valuable leadership in recent years in building a public service that has provided rewarding career paths and one that has driven a consistent reduction in gender pay gaps, well ahead of the private sector.

The PSA urges Sir Brian to weigh the progress that has been made when he takes on the role next month so he can provide quality advice to the Government that helps it better understand how the public service is helping us progress as a nation.

ENDS

‍

- Redundancy costs total nearly $50m so far - highest since 2010

- Sick leave jumps to record levels

Annual workforce data provides a sobering snapshot of the damage the Government’s cost cutting drive is inflicting on public services and workers.

The directive by the incoming government last year to cut costs and jobs has seen thousands of public service workers sacked or take voluntary redundancy.

But the data for the June year from Te Kawa Mataaho released today does not yet capture the full cost in jobs lost and redundancy paid out by taxpayers.

"This is such a sad snapshot of the damage being done to public services," said Kerry Davies National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"We know there is much worse to come as the full picture of the Government’s reckless and poorly thought through cuts becomes clearer."

The data shows taxpayers shelled out $48.8m in redundancy payments for 865 workers, driven by cuts at MBIE, Social Development, Statistics NZ and across the public service. This is the highest payout since 2010 when the last National-led government down-sized the public service.

"Based on what we know to date in terms of cuts, it’s likely that the cost to taxpayers will grow to the hundreds of millions of dollars, and to what end? That’s money that could be invested in our health system which is struggling to meet the health needs of New Zealanders right now.

"This is just more evidence the Government has got its priorities all wrong.

"The bill will also grow from here as the Government has made clear its plan to continue its ideological obsession with cutting the size of the public service.

"The cost to New Zealand will be even higher as the public service is stripped of resources and skilled workers to meet the health needs of Kiwis, to support small businesses, to secure our borders and to meet the challenges of climate change and infrastructure."

The data also shows the toll that restructuring is having on workers. Sick leave was at record levels in the June year with an average of 10.2 days taken off.

"Change is hard on workers - it causes huge stress for them and their families and disrupts the delivery of public services. This toll is only going to rise sadly.

"However, it is heartening to see the gender pay gap continuing to fall and that it remains well below that of the private sector. That partly reflects the past Government’s commitment to improve pay for those on lower and middle incomes, many of whom are women and the great leadership shown by the public sector.

"We hope this government’s austerity drive and the forcing of departments to meet wage increases out of base lines doesn’t turn back this hard-won progress. It’s particularly important with 62% of public service workers being female."

Latest public service workforce data released - Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission

ENDS

‍

The Government’s decision to cut funding to Māori Television - Whakaata Māori - and Māori Teacher Training is another devastating attack on Māori, says PSA Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho.

"This is yet another breach of Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which protects our taonga tuku iho, including the language and cultural heritage of Māori," Panoho says.

"This attack on indigenous broadcasting is an affront to our people, and part of an ongoing attack on Māori. We must oppose this government’s agenda to exploit race as a political tool to undermine Te Reo Māori and eliminate Māori news and programmes.

"It is a fact that Māori tamariki and rangatahi thrive in Kaupapa Māori education environments fare better than in mainstream schooling. We need more Māori teachers to inspire our young ones and to reinforce the importance and future of learning Te Reo Māori.

"The recent remarks made by Education Minister Erica Stanford, where she claimed that maths achievement take priority over the revitalization of Te Reo Māori, are typical of this government’s disregard for our culture. These comments ignore the reality that both academic and cultural success go hand in hand for Māori students.

"The loss of $30 million to fund Māori Teachers training and $10.3 million in time-locked funding, provided by the previous government, will have serious consequences for the future of Māori broadcasting and education.

"Despite the pleas in Parliament yesterday by former Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson, who urged the government to invest in Whakaata Māori, there has been no indication that this coalition government intends to step in and provide the necessary support.

"This is a direct attack on the future of Te Reo Māori and the Māori voice in media. Māori will not stand by while our language and our identity are diminished. The Government must be held accountable for their actions and their disregard for the commitments of Te Tiriti o Waitangi," Panoho says.

ENDS

‍

• A net 321 roles in housing delivery teams proposed to go
• Kāinga Ora confirms housing builds falling from 4800 a year to 1600

Kāinga Ora is proposing to cut a net 321 roles in the teams which play a key role in delivering social housing for thousands of New Zealanders as it significantly slows the building of new houses.

Staff were informed of the proposed change today making crystal clear the Government’s plans to downsize the state’s role in providing housing for low-income families. Kāinga Ora told staff that the ‘Government has asked us to deliver housing in lower volumes’.

"We feel for all those dedicated workers who are impacted by this proposal - they have been doing great work for a great purpose which this government is failing to value in its ideological obsession with outsourcing a key state function," said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This is a sad day for the proud tradition of the State building houses for those who depend on the government to provide a secure and healthy roof over their heads."

People who look likely to lose their jobs are those critical to the planning, design and construction of social houses, like architects, technical advisors, project coordinators, urban designers, spatial planners, and quality assurance experts. They work across the country with a third in Auckland and represent around 10% of Kāinga Ora’s workforce.

"Kāinga Ora has done an extraordinary job in its short life in boosting the construction of social houses with nearly 5000 built last year alone. Staff should take credit for their efforts in providing modern homes for those who need them most."

A host of Kāinga Ora developments are now on hold as the Government shifts back to a focus on community-provided social housing. This follows a so-called independent review by former Prime Minister Sir Bill English and significant cuts in funding in Budget 2024.

Duane Leo said; "The Government has made much of the fact that the demand for emergency housing is falling as some families shift to private rentals and into social housing. Many of those social houses were built by the previous government.

"The confirmation of Kāinga Ora’s much reduced role will only mean uncertainty in the future for these families as the supply of social housing provided by the State falls.

"Once again we see the Government’s misplaced priorities laid bare - it would rather give a helping hand to landlords than a helping hand to those who need it most."

‍

‍Background - previous PSA statements on Kāinga Ora cuts

‍1 August 2024 - Govt axes specialist Māori housing roles despite housing crisis facing many Māori

‍2 May 2024 - Government cuts put 130 jobs on the line at Kāinga Ora, and 40 at HUD

‍

‍ENDS

• GNS Science cuts net 59 jobs
• Tally of science roles axed by Govt now over 400
• Govt ignores pleas of international science community

GNS Science today confirmed final decisions that will see a net 59 roles, around 10% of its workforce, cut, including principal and senior scientists, geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, technicians and support staff."

The Government is wilfully blind to the damage its attack on science is wreaking on our ability to be prepared for future earthquakes or tsunamis," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi."

GNS Science is losing some of our best and brightest geohazard scientists, some with decades of experience. Some will likely move abroad to countries like Australia, where science is recognised as a vital contributor to the economy."

This should be all about protecting New Zealand long term, not saving money in the short term. It’s just more cold, hard evidence of this government’s failure to grapple with the serious challenges we face as a country."

GNS scientists play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of geohazard threats. Their work contributes to the National Seismic Hazard Model, which is key to assessing risks to public safety and the economy, while strengthening New Zealand’s resilience to seismic events.

As one experienced GNS scientist put it: "The underpinning research we do supports government and industry to understand and plan for risk. The research improves knowledge of how and where to build resilient infrastructure and helps to reduce the impact of natural hazards on people and property.

"We’re recognised internationally for our foundational research in earth sciences and punch well above our weight. These changes threaten the progress we've made.

"The loss of expertise is a huge blow for our earth science community. How can we keep attracting young talent when experienced scientists are being let go?"

The Government’s cuts have shocked the international science community - 85 scientists from seven countries have written an open letter to the Government stating that the cuts risk ‘compromising essential geoscientific expertise and partnerships needed to address geohazards risks, which is critical for a country whose economy and community safety is so vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change’.

"It's extremely embarrassing that respected scientists from around the world can see the huge value GNS scientists provide to our country, but the Government can’t," said Duane Leo.

"Yet again it proves that these cuts are more about saving money than harnessing the long-term benefits of science and research. The Government would rather give a handout to landlords and big tobacco than a hand up to our scientists. It’s shameful."

‍ENDS

Attached - International concern over GNS Science’s proposed science staff cuts (open letter from international scientists)

‍

‍

The Government’s reckless decisions to axe thousands of public service jobs are what is hammering the Wellington economy, not working from home.

"If the Government really cared about the Wellington economy, then it shouldn’t have cut thousands of hard working, dedicated public service workers from its payroll," said Duane Leo National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The directive from Public Service Minister Nicola Willis to reduce numbers of people working from home is just a scapegoat for the real problem which is of the Government’s own making.

"Taking the spending power of thousands of public service workers out of the Wellington economy is what is damaging businesses, and the Government must take full responsibility for its poor leadership and economic management.

"Simply telling workers to come back to the city a few more days a week won’t revive the Wellington economy. In a cost-of-living crisis, people are already saving money by making their own lunches and cutting down on coffees and after work drinks."

The decision is out of step with modern workplaces, across the private and public sector and around the world which have embraced flexible working because of its many benefits.

The latest Shaping Business Study by 2Degrees underlines this with the majority (51%) saying it has increased productivity and more than a third (37%) saying it helps to recruit and retain staff.

"Many public servants already have flexible working built into the employment agreements that have been negotiated by unions and employers. The Government can’t just disregard negotiated employment agreements.

"Workers have made decisions around their family life based on these agreements, and its particularly important for our disabled kaimahi. Flexible work arrangements make it easier for those who face challenges being in the office every day to have rewarding and productive 40-hour weeks.

"The PSA will be backing our members to stand together to hold onto their legal entitlements.

"This directive is just par for the course from a government which has consistently attacked public service workers and the role they play in supporting the economy.

"More job cuts are likely, and the Government has made it clear in the latest Workforce Policy Statement that it wants to clamp down on pay rises.

"All the evidence shows austerity doesn’t work. The Government should be investing in public services and stop blaming public service workers for the damage caused by its own policies," said Duane Leo.

ENDS

‍

PSA library worker members are angry at the latest delay to their bargaining for a pay equity settlement, despite employers already recognising that they are underpaying the workers because of illegal gender-based discrimination.

The PSA first lodged the pay equity claim with Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin councils in 2019. The PSA and the councils worked together to assess whether the workers’ roles were undervalued, following the process set out in the Equal Pay Amendment Act.

Both the PSA and the councils agreed that the library workers are underpaid, and they are underpaid because they work in female-dominated roles.

The next step in the process is bargaining a settlement. But the councils have repeatedly delayed this step, even though they have had years to prepare.

“It’s disappointing,” said PSA Delegate Tessa Bowler. “The councils have gone through the process with us, and we’ve been transparent and cooperative with them. We want to continue that approach, but they need to come to the table with the same attitude.”

The PSA has been told that it’s not a question of whether the councils have money for a settlement.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi represents over 1000 library assistant roles covered by the claim.

A fair settlement would mean a world of difference to the workers, who help the people in their communities using high-level digital skills, a wealth of knowledge of books, and information about council services such as rates and dog licences.

“The councils have the opportunity to step up and fix a decades-long injustice,” said Delegate Kamala Roberts. “Members have told us that being paid properly would mean they could put money aside and save for emergencies, holidays, or retirement. We won’t have to stress about basics like dental check-ups and GP visits.”

“We have new bargaining dates set for the end of November. But by then, we will have agreed to the undervaluation over a year ago. So, we’re concerned that it’ll be delayed again,” said PSA bargaining advocate Sarah Stone. “Equity delayed is equity denied – we want to make sure the councils understand that.”

ENDS

‍

PSA members are taking industrial action following the refusal of the NZ Defence Force to lift pay for civilian workers during bargaining for a new collective agreement.

PSA members today voted overwhelmingly to work to rule and refuse overtime and callouts (unless lives are in danger) beginning 18 September. Workers at Kauri Point in Auckland will begin action on 2 October.

"The zero wage increase NZDF tabled in bargaining is insulting to all civilian workers, so our members are left with no choice but show the depth of their feelings by taking this action," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The attitude of NZDF is clear - they value the work of those in uniform above the thousands of civilian workers who support them day in day out so our military can do the important mahi of safeguarding our country.

"NZDF is already driving a voluntary redundancy programme among the 3000-civilian staff as part of the plan to cut $30m in spending.

"The refusal to offer any pay increase will further undermine morale, increase workloads on those remaining and prompt many others to consider leaving. We fear NZDF will now consider forced redundancies to save money.

"All that will impact on the ability of NZDF to deliver its mission to ‘secure the country against external threats’. There is nothing more frontline than that.

"This is all being driven by the Government’s reckless campaign to slim down of the public service so it can afford tax cuts.

"Our national security will suffer, and that is a clear frontline impact despite the Government’s repeated promises to the contrary," said Duane Leo.

ENDS

Background - NZDF industrial action

PSA members will work to rule from 9am on 18 September, ending 5pm 31 October. The loading and unloading of ships at Kauri Point in Auckland is regarded as an essential service and members there must give 14 days’ notice of industrial action. Their work to rule begins 9am on 2 October and finishes 5pm 31 October.

‍

The Government is putting at risk all the progress that is being made to improve the lives of Māori with its latest directive to all government agencies.

The Government has directed all government agencies that public services must be delivered by need and not race as included in the coalition agreements National agreed with both ACT and NZ First.

"This will set back Māori for generations at a time when Māori remain one of the most disadvantaged groups in New Zealand," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association.

"This government is overriding its legal obligations under te Tiriti and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori that governments of late have embraced.

"The loss of land, language, health and opportunity for Māori have been caused by the Crown and exacerbated by successive governments. This directive dismisses the Crown’s responsibility to Māori to rectify its past actions.

"Having public service agencies adopt a specific focus on improving the lives of Māori has been common sense policy, one that Labour and National-led governments have supported because it works.

"This is a government talking up evidence-based policies, but in practice is ignoring evidence that these policies actually work to improve lives. Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority was abolished despite opposition from public health experts who maintained it would improve the health of Māori.

"It’s done the same with the referendum on Māori wards, with Oranga Tamariki by removing 7AA, with the Treaty Principles Bill, proposing to remove te Tiriti references in legislation, with directing Pharmac not to consider te Tiriti in its funding decisions.

"Who is demanding this latest change? It’s not Māori. There is no groundswell of voices calling for it.

"Again, the Government has taken a decision based on ideology which fundamentally impacts Māori without consulting Māori. There’s a clear pattern here of a government again setting out to divide New Zealand. No-one voted for that," said Janice Panoho.

ENDS

‍

Another broken promise - more to come

Government spending cuts mean frontline workers in Auckland who provide critical support for families living in emergency housing face losing their jobs.

Emerge Aotearoa is a national charitable trust that provides social services to support disadvantaged people across the country, including for families in emergency housing.

But the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is cutting an annual contract that funded 17 full time staff - housing navigators - in Auckland. Seven navigators will no longer be funded.

"This is another broken promise from a heartless government which is putting saving money ahead of supporting the lives of the most vulnerable in our community," said Melissa Woolley, Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"These people do amazing work, helping people cope with living on a benefit, people experiencing a mental health crisis, or sick or disabled, people who have been knocked back who are trying to find a safe roof over their heads.

"They help people navigate the system, ensuring they get the support they need while in emergency housing and help them transition to permanent housing arrangements.

"When you’ve hit rock bottom, the work of people like housing navigators is so important to help people get their lives back together.

"The Government is already making it tough enough for disadvantaged people with harsher sanctions on beneficiaries and now this shameful funding cut. We fear this could be the start of cuts for other social services supported by MSD.

"Up and down the country we already have frontline social services for vulnerable families being cut with Oranga Tamariki slashing contracts as demanded by the Minister for Children.

"At a time of rising hardship, these cuts will only make lives worse for so many who just need a helping hand. This government is out of touch with the needs of struggling New Zealanders," said Melissa Woolley.

ENDS

‍

127 MRI technologists, sonographers, administrators, and others at Pacific Radiology will strike on Tuesday 10th September from 10am to 12pm.

Members of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi voted to strike after their employer proposed different pay rates for people doing the same work based on what region they’re in.

Strike action comes as pay negotiations enter their tenth month. Some scan appointments scheduled during the strike period - including CTs, X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs - will be affected or need to be rescheduled.

"We should be paid for the skills we have and care we give patients, not for where we live, says PSA Delegate and Administrator Livi McHugo.

"They’re not proposing regional rates for everyone but we’re standing together because we don’t accept it for anyone."

The offer would see a sonographer in Christchurch paid around 5% less than a sonographer doing the same work in Wellington. An MRI technologist in Christchurch would be paid around 6% less than they would in Hamilton.

Experienced practitioners have already left Pacific Radiology for better pay offered by other medical imaging services. Members are concerned regional rates will only exacerbate recruitment issues in lower paid areas and damage workplace culture.

"A pay increase that’s fair for everyone and brings wages closer to what other companies offer is what will actually stop people leaving and bring new people in."

"We work very hard to get patients in as soon as possible, to get the right scan, to get their results, all with a real focus on patient care, says PSA Delegate and MRI Technologist Kirsten Miller.

"For us to keep giving that high quality care, we need to keep our experienced staff here."

"Most of us appreciate how we’ve been treated in the past and don’t want that to change. We just want a fair pay offer so we can look after ourselves and keep looking after patients." says McHugo.

PSA members will take strike action in Christchurch, Wellington, and Pacific Radiology sites across the regions.

ENDS

‍

Government funding cuts are forcing the Salvation Army to propose axing a range of roles including social workers, navigators and other frontline positions which deal with highly complex cases across the North Island

Twenty-three workers are impacted by the cuts across the North Island with 18 jobs proposed to be disestablished. Hours for five other roles are proposed to be cut with four part-time roles created. This follows Oranga Tamariki discontinuing contracts and only providing minimal funding for a small number of other contracts.

The cuts would have been much worse had the Salvation Army not agreed to divert funding from other areas to support this service as much as possible.

"This is a government that puts saving money ahead of saving people, that peddles the lie that its cuts won’t impact the frontline. It has again been exposed," said Melissa Woolley, Assistant National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The people doing it tough and needing a helping hand from a social worker are the ones that will pay the price for this decision. These are all frontline, hands-on roles focused on helping vulnerable people and supporting less experienced social workers in dealing with people facing challenges. You don’t get more frontline than this.

"It’s ironic that the Prime Minister visited Westgate Salvation Army recently and talked to people at the frontline helping families struggling in the cost-of-living crisis, while pushing savage cost cutting policies that impact some of those very families.

"These cuts are part of the Government’s ongoing slash and burn approach to public and community services in town, cities and rural areas across the country while maintaining the fiction that only office jobs in Wellington are being axed."

The change proposal covers workers in Auckland (Glenfield, Manukau, Royal Oak and Waitakere), Tauranga, Hamilton, Hutt City and Palmerston North.

"We know social workers in other urban and rural areas also face losing their critical jobs.

"Wherever you live, the Government is axing services that support people and strengthen communities. It would rather give hand-outs to landlords and big tobacco than provide a helping hand to those who really need it," said Melissa Woolley.

A variety of social service contracts have been cut by Oranga Tamariki following government spending cuts. This includes $14 million shaved from the Family Start programme, which will see the loss of 107 dedicated social workers and up to another 63 workers. This will mean 1600 babies under the age of two not being seen by Family Start workers.

‍

PSA members at social housing and service provider Visionwest will strike for fair pay from 10am to 11am today. Members are striking at Visionwest locations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Christchurch, and rallying outside Auckland sites.

Union members are calling for a 5% increase for all members to keep up with the cost of living. This is their second strike in three weeks, after eight months of negotiations led to Visionwest offering meagre pay increases ranging from 0% to 2.6%.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) covers 97 Visionwest workers across Aotearoa. These social workers, administrators, and home healthcare coordinators support whānau doing it tough into transitional and social housing or private rentals. They provide cultural support, counselling, food parcels, employment and education services, and home healthcare.

"The strain on all social services is getting greater, and the work is becoming more complex. Working to keep up is exhausting," said Melissa Woolley, PSA Assistant Secretary.

"How can our members support our communities as effectively as possible when their employer isn’t supporting them?"

Woolley also emphasised the importance of a fair pay offer for across the different roles at Visionwest.

"All of Visionwest’s workers play essential roles in supporting our communities," said Woolley. "Social workers work directly with whānau, and coordinators and administrators make sure support gets where it needs to go.

"Management needs to show that it values our members. A decent offer for all of them would help us keep up with the cost of living and reflect their dedication to their mahi."

ENDS

‍

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi extends its condolences to the Kiingitanga and Te whare ariki at this time of great sadness with the passing of Kiingi Pootatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu.

Kiingi Tuheitia has been instrumental in advocating for Māori in uniting people through kotahitanga.

“The PSA, including its 11,000 Māori members, acknowledge with gratitude the leadership role played by Kiingi Tuheitia in providing a voice of reason and unity at time when these attributes were sorely needed,” PSA Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho said.

“Aotearoa has lost a great and wise leader,” Janice said.

PSA Vice President Māori Lesley Dixon said: “’Kua hinga he tōtara i te wao nui a Tane’. It is a sad time for Māoridom as we acknowledge the loss of one of our great leaders.”

Taakiri tuu te kotahitanga
Taakiri tuu te Mana motuhake

"E moe mai raa e te Kiingi"

‍

Unfocused, wide ranging voluntary redundancies at Te Whatu Ora will further destabilise public health to meet Government imposed spending cuts, the PSA says.

Today Te Whatu Ora issued a call for voluntary redundancies to specialists working in health administration, advisory, and knowledge roles.

Off the back of the hiring freeze that is leaving hoards of vital health roles unfilled, hundreds of experienced workers are now expected to leave the health system.

"This Government is deliberately destabilising the foundations of the overall health system that make every operation, diagnosis, vaccine, scan, or other public and community health service possible," says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Kerry Davies.

"Any reduction in the health workforce will compromise people’s health. There’s no actual plan, no targets for what they’re trying to achieve in terms of improving health outcomes. It’s just a rash and reckless cost cutting exercise that looks to be part of the Government’s agenda to strip back public services as a prelude to privatisation," Davies says.

"Te Whatu Ora is being forced to meet the Government’s unhinged and unplanned defunding of healthcare, no matter the consequences."

Teams impacted include administrators across the system, procurement and supply chain, information, analytics and research, policy and programmes, as well as communications, finance, and HR. Anyone in these areas can submit an expression of interest in voluntary redundancy.

"We stand to lose people keeping medical records safe, getting our health data in front of clinicians, scheduling our scans and operations. People monitoring supply chains, so the right syringe gets to the right ward at the right time for a patient to get their medication."

"Prime Minister Luxon and Health Minister Reti chose to rebrand chronic Government underfunding of health as a deficit to force their slash and burn approach.

"Just as they did for other public services, the politicians target people working behind-the-scenes because they think they can get away with it. But clinicians are well aware patient care depends on administrators, IT support, and logistics workers.

"There are already excessive vacancies being carried in these roles because of the hiring freeze. It will be unreasonable to expect people who already have demanding workloads in a stretched health system to take on even more work because of these cuts," Davies said.

"We’re already hearing horrifying stories of 72-hour wait times and worse for mental health care. Gouging at the foundations of an already stretched-to-breaking system will mean people won’t get the care they need.

"Public health for all is a value most people in Aotearoa take pride in. Our communities desperately need more health resources and funding, not less," says Davies.

ENDS

‍

The ‘tough on crime’ Government is forcing the Serious Fraud Office to cut funding and jobs, undermining the ability of the office to keep fighting white collar crime which impacts thousands of New Zealanders every year.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has had its funding cut by 3.5% and is proposing a net loss of six roles across its Strategy and Prevention, Forensic Services and Legal teams. This equates to around 7% of its workforce.

"Fraud is rising fast, yet the Government promised to be ‘tough on crime’ so this just doesn’t add up - fraud will only keep hurting more New Zealanders," said Duane Leo National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The Government promised evidence-based decisions, but once again it’s ignoring the advice of its own experts. The SFO told the new Minister last November that ‘fraud and corruption increases during an economic downturn…History has also shown it is during these times that the SFO’s value is most acute.’ [1]

"The SFO also told the Minister that fraud and deception was the only offence type to see a significant increase year-on-year in the latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (June 2023). It’s the fastest growing crime type, impacting one in ten New Zealanders.

"These short-sighted cuts remove frontline roles, tasked with fraud prevention, and technical specialists whose expertise is needed to keep us one step ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraudsters.

"Specifically, why cut resources for the teams fighting cyber-enabled crime which the office knows is exploding globally and while like organisations overseas are investing more in these areas? Similarly, why cut roles in the legal team when its workload is increasing, and prosecutions are becoming more complex?

"These cuts will place all New Zealanders at risk. But this is par for the course from this government which also gutted the specialist teams at Internal Affairs tackling criminals targeting children online and promoting scams.

"At a time when technology is fast advancing, including AI, fraud is becoming harder to detect, this is the time to invest more, not less in battling fraud and corruption.

"The Office told the Minister it was already ‘lean and efficient’ so how can it properly do its important work in the face of these cuts?

"This Government has made a choice to put tax cuts for landlords, big tobacco and higher income earners ahead of protecting New Zealanders from powerful and smart criminals who threaten us."

[1] Serious Fraud Office briefing to incoming Minister November 2023

ENDS

‍

Unions representing care and support workers flatly reject the pay equity methodology report released by Te Whatu Ora.

"From the beginning, unions and employers rejected the review as a smokescreen designed to stall the claim," says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant National Secretary Melissa Woolley.

The claim covers 12,500 workers who look after the most vulnerable in our community, and significant implications for the wider workforce of 65,000 people.

"We undertook a rigorous, systematic process that followed relevant guidance and legislation to establish and measure sex-based undervaluation. Thousands of hours were contributed by workers, unions, employers, pay equity experts, the Public Service Commission, and Te Whatu Ora themselves."

The review was instigated unilaterally by Te Whatu Ora in an extraordinary departure from the normal process in September 2023.

"The level of undervaluation a pay equity assessment process reveals is not always palatable because our economy has leaned heavily on women subsidising the cost of important and difficult care work. Just because it is not palatable to those responsible for the bill to correct the wage rates does not mean it is inaccurate." Says E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh.

"Their review was conducted without any input from even one care or support worker. The result is out of touch, and we do not consider it credible in any way. The claim has moved on significantly since this review fizzled out," Mackintosh says.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Goulter says the release is a distraction from what’s really at the heart of the pay equity claim.

"Already low-income workers being denied gender wage justice by these tactics designed to delay and confuse. They deserve better. They deserve proper pay equity now," Goulter says

Woolley says the unions are extremely disappointed Te Whatu Ora released the report without advising any party involved in the claim.

"This only serves to muddy the waters while tens of thousands of workers continue to struggle to make ends meet, calling for their claim to be sorted," Wooley says.

"We are dedicated to a just solution that honours the people doing some of the most important work there is - supporting disabled whānau, older people, people experiencing mental health or addiction, and people with illness or injury to live well.

"We continue to call on Health Minister Reti and Te Whatu Ora to stop the delays and urgently provide full funding to deliver an equitable pay rates."

ENDS

‍

The Government’s decision to scrap a law requiring local councils to promote the long-term well-being of communities is another stark reminder of the low priority it places on Aotearoa’s many challenges.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced the Government was axing part of the Local Government Act which states the purpose of local government is to ‘promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.’

This requirement was passed into law in 2002, scrapped by the National-led government in 2012 and reinstated by the last government in 2018.

"This is a typically short-sighted decision by a government which has already shown how poorly it’s managing our many challenges from climate change to an ageing population," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"How can community well-being not be a priority for local government?

"This was put in for good reason - all parts of government, from central to local, should take a broad and considered view of how their policies impact communities today and tomorrow.

"All communities face big challenges from growing populations, adapting to climate change and fixing ageing infrastructure. Local councils should be required to set priorities and plan to meet these.

"But this government seems to think this is just not that important and is pressing ahead without consulting the communities the decision impacts, just as it has done with the Māori wards. Where was the outcry from communities demanding this change?

"Once again, the Government is over-riding the interests of the very people its policies impact. It’s reckless, rushed and poorly thought through just as it is doing by undermining the public services New Zealanders need everyday," said Duane Leo.

The PSA is committed to better local government services and a strengthening of local participation. We want a better future for local government.

We are the principal trade union representing local government workers. The PSA is one of the few organisations which has a solid overview of the local government sector, not only from the perspective of local government workers and union members, but also from a civil society perspective through its over 95,000 members who work in other sectors and are residents and ratepayers in every part of the country.

ENDS

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97 social workers, administrators, and home healthcare coordinators at social housing and service provider Visionwest will take strike action on Wednesday 21 August from 11am to 12pm.

People working at Visionwest support whānau doing it tough into transitional and social housing or private rentals and provide wraparound support. They offer cultural support, counselling, food parcels, employment and education services, and home healthcare.

Strike action comes after eight months of negotiations leading to Visionwest offering a meagre pay increases ranging from 0% for some to 2.6% for others.

Members of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi say their pay is putting them under pressure.

"The cost of living is going up for everyone. Visionwest sees the stress and strain from that on the whānau we support, but we’re experiencing it too as their staff," says PSA Delegate and Social Worker Liz Dick.

"Some people have had to access food assistance which Visionwest helped with. It’s ironic the organisation is addressing economic hardship for people but failing to pay wages that don’t eliminate food insecurity for their employees."

Union members are calling on their employer to deliver a 5% increase for everyone.

"We’re asking for a fair and equitable approach that would help us keep up with the cost of living and reflect the commitment and quality we bring to work," says Dick.

People working in the social, health, and housing services report greater complexity of work conditions as services come under strain.

"Social workers want to go above and beyond constantly. But people are saying they are permanently exhausted and it’s leeching into their personal lives. There’s no off-switch," says PSA Delegate and Social Worker Jameela Diallo.

"We need to be able to look after ourselves to do our work. A decent wage offer would mean one less thing to worry about and make life just a little bit more manageable," says Diallo.

Strikes will take place at Visionwest locations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Christchurch on Wednesday.

A second strike is scheduled for Monday 2 September from 10am to 11am.

ENDS

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The PSA is concerned that Te Whatu Ora is planning further cuts to the directorate that manages Public Health Service contracts for vital areas such as Primary Care, ambulance services, oral care and aged care.

These and other contracts are managed by the Commissioning Directorate at Te Whatu Ora.

Yesterday Commissioning staff were told in an internal briefing that 126 jobs were to go by the end of the year, on top of 142 vacant roles that won’t be filled. The cuts were aimed at making $30 million in savings, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Kerry Davies.

“These savage cuts will see the head count of the Commissioning Directorate fall from 750 to 482 (36%). The directorate had already been cut back from its head count of 1004 in 2022,” Davies says.

Staff were told at the briefing that there would be a cull of programmes and contracts as a result of the job losses as the Commissioning Directorate would not be able to manage all the existing work with its reduced head count.

The Government and Health Commissioner Lester Levy would make decisions on what contracts and programmes would be cut staff were told.

“Davies says the PSA is deeply concerned the cuts will impact delivery of vital health care to New Zealanders.

“We are also concerned that the changes will delay or halt overdue pay equity settlements for care and support workers,” Davies says.

“Commissioning also manages developing and contracting of new health services, so these cuts will reduce the ability of the health system to bring in innovative services.

“The rhetoric will be that the savings from these job cuts will be directed to into primary health care. But the Government is just robbing Peter to pay Paul. These cuts will impact the Public Health Services that keep people out of hospital.

“One, example is community oral health services that reduce the need for children to go into hospital for oral surgery,” Davies says.

“What’s needed is for the Government to properly fund health and not look to make cuts to one vital service to pay for another,” says Davies.

The 126 Commissioning jobs that are going include approximately ten roles that are part of a change proposal released in July, which included disestablishing the National Director Commissioning, and the Office of the National Director of Commissioning.

The office is responsible for managing the important machinery of government work such as producing Ministerial advice, responding to OIAs and Parliamentary Questions.

“This work is vital for ensuring the public, media, stakeholders and politicians are able to access information vital to ensuring the democratic oversight of the health system,” Davies says.

Ends

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The PSA is concerned that Te Whatu Ora is planning further cuts to the directorate that manages Public Health Service contracts for vital areas such as Primary Care, ambulance services, oral care and aged care.

These and other contracts are managed by the Commissioning Directorate at Te Whatu Ora.

Yesterday Commissioning staff were told in an internal briefing that 126 jobs were to go by the end of the year, on top of 142 vacant roles that won’t be filled. The cuts were aimed at making $30 million in savings, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Kerry Davies.

“These savage cuts will see the head count of the Commissioning Directorate fall from 750 to 482 (36%). The directorate had already been cut back from its head count of 1004 in 2022,” Davies says.

Staff were told at the briefing that there would be a cull of programmes and contracts as a result of the job losses as the Commissioning Directorate would not be able to manage all the existing work with its reduced head count.

The Government and Health Commissioner Lester Levy would make decisions on what contracts and programmes would be cut staff were told.

“Davies says the PSA is deeply concerned the cuts will impact delivery of vital health care to New Zealanders.

“We are also concerned that the changes will delay or halt overdue pay equity settlements for care and support workers,” Davies says.

“Commissioning also manages developing and contracting of new health services, so these cuts will reduce the ability of the health system to bring in innovative services.

“The rhetoric will be that the savings from these job cuts will be directed to into primary health care. But the Government is just robbing Peter to pay Paul. These cuts will impact the Public Health Services that keep people out of hospital.

“One, example is community oral health services that reduce the need for children to go into hospital for oral surgery,” Davies says.

“What’s needed is for the Government to properly fund health and not look to make cuts to one vital service to pay for another,” says Davies.

The 126 Commissioning jobs that are going include approximately ten roles that are part of a change proposal released in July, which included disestablishing the National Director Commissioning, and the Office of the National Director of Commissioning.

The office is responsible for managing the important machinery of government work such as producing Ministerial advice, responding to OIAs and Parliamentary Questions.

“This work is vital for ensuring the public, media, stakeholders and politicians are able to access information vital to ensuring the democratic oversight of the health system,” Davies says.

Ends

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The PSA and Oranga Tamariki have signed an agreement ending proceedings taken by the union in the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

The PSA had filed proceedings in the ERA alleging Oranga Tamariki is not complying with the collective agreement relating to change processes.

Oranga Tamariki is looking to axe 419 net roles to meet the Government’s requirements for spending cuts.

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says that today’s agreement has settled the issues relating to how the change process was conducted.

"However, our overall position remains that we reject the destructive political agenda that the current Government has adopted with respect to public services generally and Oranga Tamariki specifically. The work of PSA members delivering these critical public and community services is much too valuable to be subject to such deep cuts," Fitzsimons says.

Fitzsimons says that the PSA and Oranga Tamariki will now work through a change process that complies with what was agreed in the Collective Agreement.

The PSA has also settled this matter with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

The PSA was successful in a similar case against the Ministry of Education (MoE) in the ERA. The MoE has given notice it intends to appeal aspects of the ERA’s findings.

ENDS

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Restructure is another rushed cost saving exercise

The Government decision to strip Whaikaha of disability support services is a slap in the face for the disabled community.

"It’s irresponsible for the Government to shut the door on the concept of a single agency for the disabled community, an agency it wanted, barely two years after being set up," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Whaikaha was never given a chance to succeed. Now the disabled community will lose its strong voice to ensure support services are well funded and a joined-up disability support system so thousands of people can lead ordinary lives.

"Whaikaha was supposed to be an operational and policy agency, ensuring a joined-up approach for the delivery of services and entitlements and the policies needed to make the system work well.

"Turning Whaikaha into a policy shop will water down the voice of the disabled community in government.

"This is another reckless and rushed decision where the disabled community was not adequately consulted, and the PSA, which represents the workforce, completely ignored.

"How can these decisions be made without talking to the very people at the coalface who need the support and who deliver it?

"We fear this is simply a recipe to save money and cut entitlements especially with the rising number of disabled people as our population grows. It comes in the same week the Government announced harmful and punitive traffic light sanctions on people on income support, which will make life harder for many disabled people using those services.

"The PSA is also concerned that today’s announcement states that residential disability providers will not be getting a cost-of-living funding increases this year. This comes at a time when disability support workers are largely now on the minimum wage while they wait for this government to deliver their pay equity settlement."

Officials told the last government a single agency was ‘the best organisational structure to lead the realisation of a true partnership between the disability community and government to achieve ongoing transformation of the disability system.’

"Why make this change in the face of all the arguments for a better system from officials and the disabled community. But this is par for the course from a government which promised no cuts to frontline services. This is exactly what is happening."

ENDS

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The diminishing of Te Arawhiti is another disappointing attack on the place of Māori in Aotearoa, said the Public Service Association.

The Government announced today its intention to refocus Te Arawhiti purely on its legislative functions under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

Te Puni Kōkiri will take over the post Treaty settlement implementation function and other functions.

The PSA is the union for staff at Te Arawhiti which has a workforce of about 200.

"This is a confusing plan which risks undermining the good work of Te Arawhiti and the progress that has been made by the agency to achieve better results for Māori," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association.

Te Arawhiti, established in 2018, has been pivotal in fostering Māori-Crown relations and ensuring that the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are upheld within the public service.

"Why take the risk of unwinding this good work just six years later?

"The whole point of Te Arawhiti was to be a one stop shop for accelerating treaty settlements, supporting Māori in the future so Treaty settlement commitments were implemented and strengthening the public service capability around the Treaty.

"The splitting off of functions means Te Arawhiti will lose the connection it had with the teams getting the settlements agreed and the context behind them. How is that efficient?

"By limiting Te Arawhiti to treaty settlements and Takutai Moana it sends a signal that the agency will be left doing the bare minimum as both are legislated requirements.

"This will have a damaging impact on the morale of staff who have already been dealing with a change process which has now been shelved. This says much about the Government’s poor planning around all its rushed spending cuts.

"The intention of the change has been poorly communicated to staff which is really disappointing given how committed they are to improving outcomes to Māori."

"This confusing change leaves staff in a state of uncertainty for the future and they will almost inevitably start the process of looking for other work rather than risk getting caught up in the fallout of this.

"We call on the Government to reconsider this poorly thought through restructure and recognise the critical importance of Te Arawhiti work and the value it brings to Aotearoa," said Janice Panoho.

ENDS

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Government spending cuts are forcing a key agency at the frontline of protecting our environment to propose axing one in five roles.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is New Zealand’s environmental regulator charged with ‘protecting the environment and enhancing a safe and sustainable way of life.’

It is proposing to cut a net 42 roles, including 21 currently vacant, representing around one in five roles across the authority (see below) as it looks to cut spending by $2.1m.

"This is just the latest in a serious of deep cuts which underscore how little the Government values our precious environmental resources, and how they can be responsibly harnessed to grow the economy," said Kerry Davies National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"It’s already slashed funding and jobs at DOC, the Ministry for the Environment, the Climate Change Commission, NIWA and GNS Science which all help to safeguard our environment and prepare us for climate change. It’s axed roles at Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries which protect our borders from threats to our primary sector.

"These proposed cuts at the EPA are just more short-term thinking that will have long term consequences.

"The EPA has a very important function in supporting our international trade objectives and providing scientific and technical expertise to ensure New Zealand meets its obligations under international environment and climate change agreements. Isn’t this a priority for the Government?

"All this is happening in the face of evidence the Government should be investing more in an agency like the EPA at the frontline of protecting our environment from threats.

"The EPA has been under financial pressure for years. In 2022 it commissioned a report into its finances by consultants Martin Jenkins which warned the failure to properly fund the EPA could ‘heighten delivery risks and the potential for adverse outcomes.’"

The EPA is also proposing to scrap the team engaging with sectors like forestry and agriculture, key stakeholders which need to understand the role and function of the Authority. It is also significantly downsizing its community engagement function.

"It just seems irresponsible for the Authority to turn its back on all the people it needs to support and educate. The sector engagement team also liaises with many forestry owning iwi so how is this not a priority still?

"All this shows again a government driven by ideology and failing to grapple with the challenges we face. It’s just the same old show."

ENDS

Summary of changes

The EPA is proposing a net reduction of 42 roles, including cuts to the following teams (disestablished roles):

- Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (10)

- Customer and Community Engagement (8)

- Communications (6)

- Government Engagement and Information Management (4)

- Climate, Land and Oceans (3)

- Legal (2)

What does the EPA do?

The Authority looks after our marine environment by regulating offshore activities and making decisions on permits for offshore activities. It also manages application processes for nationally significant proposals under the Resource Management Act.

The EPA does the monitoring and enforcement work to make sure people understand and comply with the environmental regulations designed to keep people and our environment safe. It is responsible for a range of community engagement initiatives - from helping community members carry out environmental DNA testing to protect their local waterways, to promoting environmentally responsible farming through its engagement with the agricultural sector.

It also manages the Emissions Trading Register, a key part of New Zealand’s climate change response.

ENDS

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The PSA strongly rejects moves to fund pay rises for public service workers through further cuts to public services and jobs, as signalled in the Government’s Workforce Policy Statement (GWPS).

The Minister for Public Services Nicola Willis today released the new GWPS, which outlines the Government’s expectations of employment relations in the public sector. It also covers workforce matters including remuneration and negotiation of employment agreements. Any changes to PSA Collective Agreements will need to be bargained with the PSA and ratified by members.

After indiscriminately slashing public service budgets resulting in cutting over 6,000 roles across the public service, and signalling further funding cuts to follow, Nicola Willis is instructing agencies to meet future pay increases from existing baselines, said Kerry Davies National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The use only of an already severely cut baseline for pay increases does not recognise the cost of living increases facing our members. Pay increases should not be funded from job losses," said Davies

The GWPS also seeks to direct agencies not to backdate changes to pay and working conditions negotiated through bargaining.

"This is not only cruel, it’s also unrealistic and unworkable especially given that it is often departments themselves that are responsible for delays, Davies said.

"We’re also seeing a continuation of this Government’s attacks on te reo Māori, with the GWPS seeking to limit the use of allowances designed to promote the use of te reo within the public service.

"Public servants being able to competently and confidently communicate in te reo is part and parcel of ensuring public service workers understand the needs of Māori so they can do better at delivering to them," said Davies.

"The allowances are in collective employment agreements across the public sector. They recognise the importance of Te Reo as an official language and underscores the commitment of successive governments to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We need to be building skills.

The GWPS is also woefully inadequate on pay equity, barely mentioning it at all aside from telling agencies to "take steps to close unjustified pay gaps.", Davies said.

ENDS

The Pu

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Children’s Minister Karen Chour is disrespecting the vital work of frontline community workers and social workers who support vulnerable children and their families.

Today she accused service providers of wasting money including claims that Oranga Tamariki has been used as a ‘cash cow’ by community service providers.

"It is inappropriate and wrong for a Cabinet Minister to describe valued community providers in such an inflammatory and disrespectful way," said Melissa Woolley, Assistant Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This is offensive. The Minister should withdraw the media statement and apologise to all providers and those who work for them.

"These providers and workers do vital frontline work that aims to support New Zealand families and whānau with the highest needs. This work includes providing practical advice, support and parenting education. They are absolutely in the front-line protecting babies and pēpē.

"It is the kind of support that picks up the warning signs if young children are in dangerous situations. Cutting this service will put more vulnerable babies and pēpē at risk by removing vital support for families," said Woolley.

"The providers and workers deserve better from the Government.

"The Minister has not provided any proof to her claim that Oranga Tamariki has allowed ‘money to slide through the cracks. If she has evidence of this, she must be transparent about this including to the Auditor General."

"Across the country service providers are losing money and are axing jobs and that means fewer parents will get the support they need to help them through challenging times with their babies."

The Family Start programme has lost $14 million in funding and may have to cut 107 full time roles.

"The Government promised no impacts on frontline services. We know that is a broken promise.

"We call on the Minister to retract her statement and restore the funding. This is just more short-term thinking by this government driven by ideology that will have long term consequences for children."

ENDS

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The Government’s broken promise that no frontline services will be impacted by its funding cuts has again been shown up as a blatant lie with the $14 million funding cuts for the Family Start programme.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) is the union for social workers and other social service workers employed in non-governmental organisations. Yesterday the PSA was part of a briefing on Family Start funding, which confirmed that its funding will be cut by 25%.

These cuts will see the loss of 107 dedicated social workers and up to another 63 workers, and will mean that 1600 babies under the age of 2 not being seen by Family Start workers.

Family Start is a nationwide early home visiting programme, focused on the health and development of babies and their families, including expectant mothers.

PSA National Sector Leader Josh Gardner says that Family Start social workers support New Zealand families and whānau with the highest needs, including providing practical advice, support and parenting education. They are absolutely in the front-line protecting babies and pēpē.

"Family Start helps children and families through pregnancy and the early childhood years, the times when the young are most vulnerable.

"It is the kind of support that picks up the warning signs if young children are in dangerous situations. Cutting this service will put more vulnerable babies and pēpē at risk by removing vital support for families," said Gardner.

"Visting people in their own homes is key to the success of this programme. Home visits establish relationships with parents, build trust and ensure the right parenting support is available.

"This programme is about giving parents and families the skills they need to be good parents. These cuts are cruel and show that the Government is making the same mistakes as those outlined in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care.

"These cuts fly in the face of the report and show, despite the Prime Minister’s fine words in Parliament when the report was released, what the Government’s real priorities are when it comes to supporting young children.

"This latest attack on children and their families is on top of Government cuts at Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education, the very agencies charged with looking after our future.

"The PSA will be opposing these cuts and exposing the impact this decision will have on children both now and in the future," Gardner said.

We urge the Minister for Children and the Prime Minister to reverse this decision.

ENDS

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Workers in Auckland Council’s pools and leisure centres are celebrating their successful campaign against privatising management of pools and leisure centres. Today the Council’s governing body decided not to contract out management of the 22 facilities it currently operates.

The facilities will remain under Council management, and the PSA is committed to working with Council to find opportunities for savings and operational improvements.

“This is a huge win for us workers and our communities,” said PSA Delegate Gaby Frigerio. “The decision shows trust in our members’ expertise – we look forward to working towards better outcomes for everyone.

“We want to thank everyone across Tāmaki Makaurau who stood with us in favour keeping public services in public hands. We spoke up and we were heard.”

“Our members and their communities made it clear they wanted these facilities to be working in the interests of people, not profit,” said PSA Organiser Sarah Stone.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) represents members working across Council-run pools and leisure centres, including lifeguards, recreation assistants, customer support representatives, fitness consultants, Learn to Swim instructors, and team leaders.

The privatisation proposal was the result of a review of the Council’s pools and leisure facilities to check whether current arrangements are still effective. In a presentation to the governing body today, the PSA argued that active and open engagement with workers is a better way forward.

“You’d be absolutely blown away by the creative thinking, the ideas, the problem solving from [our members],” said PSA Delegate Martin Graham in the presentation. “Don’t underestimate our people.”

ENDS

Further information:

Watch the PSA's presentation to the governing body

Read our previous media release on the proposal (published 23 July)

Read our information sheet on the proposal (published 23 July)

‍

- Net 66 roles proposed to go across the Crown Research Institute

- Takes tally of science jobs axed to over 400

GNS Science is proposing to cut more than 10% of its workforce undermining its critical work helping New Zealand adapt to climate change and manage natural hazards and risks from earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions

Staff have been told its financial situation had deteriorated so much it needed to reduce its workforce, proposing a net loss of 66 roles, or around 13% of its workforce.

This would take total roles lost in the science and research sector to well over 400 as detailed in the Save Science Coalition report.

"This is a sad day for science in Aotearoa and just more proof of the low value this government places on science and research," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The proposed cuts make little sense when GNS was profitable only a few months ago. On 1 March the chief executive told staff: ‘Our financial results - yet to be audited - are positive. We are up on revenue and sitting at a profit. Overall, we’re in a much better position than we were at this time last year.’

"How can the situation deteriorate so quickly to justify these wholesale cuts? Is the Government suddenly demanding a larger dividend to fund its tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco?

"Like cuts at Callaghan Innovation, NIWA and elsewhere, this is happening in the absence of a science strategy from the Government which is being prepared by Sir Peter Gluckman’s Science System Advisory Group.

"Once again we are seeing the Government’s misplaced priorities. It says science matters, but is ploughing ahead with cutting our best and brightest scientists and researchers who will now be forced to go offshore to find jobs, ultimately benefitting other countries.

"How can the Science System Advisory Group plot a path forward when the system is being devestated in this way?

"It’s irresponsible and flies in the face of evidence that investment in science underpins innovation and productivity. New Zealand is already slipping in world rankings for innovation."

In the latest Global Innovation Index, New Zealand came in 27th out of 132 economies - three spots worse than last year.

"We understand ESR, one of our key Crown Research Institutes, responsible for pandemic preparedness, forensic science, and food and product safety, is the next target for cuts.

"We urge the Government to think again and consider the long term impacts of its reckless cuts across the science sector, which are happening in the absence of any careful analysis of what science New Zealand needs to be undertaking as a country.

"It’s more about saving money than harnessing the long term benefits of science and research."

ENDS

Background GNS funding

While GNS did receive ongoing funding in the Budget for Geonet, and the National Seismic Hazard Model, this funding was set to decrease over the next several years, with funding being cut by over 20% per annum by 2027/28, compared to current funding levels. However, the GNS proposal expands beyond these two programmes that have been given lower funding by the Government.

ENDS

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Solving the housing crisis facing many Māori whānau will be that much harder with Kāinga Ora proposing to more than halve the specialist team focused on supporting the housing dreams of Māori.

The latest restructure will see a net reduction of 27 roles from Te Kurutao Group Māori which currently has 48 FTEs. This follows earlier decisions to cut 130 roles in the wake of the Government’s spending cuts which have stripped $1 billion from Kāinga Ora.

"This is outrageous at a time when it’s never been more important to provide, healthy, secure and affordable housing for Māori if we are to make real inroads into poverty in this country," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Te Kurutao is helping Kāinga Ora deliver on its function as defined in legislation and that is to ‘understand, support, and enable the aspirations of Māori in relation to urban development’. [1]

"To help do that, you need a specialist team capable of building and maintaining relationships, and one that understands the barriers facing hapū and Māori organisations from developing projects, particularly building papakāinga and housing on Māori-owned land.

"Te Kurutao is the team of experts who bring a critical te Ao Māori perspective to housing challenges, assisting other staff at Kāinga Ora and advising Māori on funding and planning issues. Their work supports Kāinga Ora to turn ideas into projects that deliver affordable, quality housing for hapū and Māori organisations.

"All the evidence points to the need to be investing more in this area especially with the gap between Māori and Pakeha housing statistics growing in recent years."

According to a 2020 Cabinet paper, the Māori home ownership rate is only 28 per cent compared to 57 per cent for the general population. Māori make up a third of public housing tenants despite being around 15 per cent of the general population. Māori are five times more likely than Pākehā to be homeless. [2]

"There is a worrying trend across the public service now, that despite the evidence showing Māori more likely to experience social and economic challenges, the Government is happy to stand by and allow specialist Māori advisers to be sacked - the very people who say they are critical to improving results for Māori."

Māori advisors have been axed from Oranga Tamariki, Health, ACC and other agencies.

"None of this makes sense if the Government was really committed to improving outcomes for those who most need the support of a quality public service.

"Instead, the Government has been focused on finding savings everywhere to fund tax cuts. That money trickling into pay packets now, will have a real cost in terms of a public service that can’t properly deliver on the needs of many Māori today.," said Janice Panoho.

ENDS

Example of work of Te Kurutao Group

Case study re Te Kurutao’s projects with Te Rūnaka o Awarua in Motupōhue; Partnership bolsters bid for ‘critical’ iwi housing aspirations :: Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities (kaingaora.govt.nz).

[1] Kāinga Ora-Homes and Communities Act 2019

[2] Te Maihi o te Whare Māori - the Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation (MAIHI)

Framework for Action, May 2020

ENDS

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PSA members working within Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand are not seeing evidence of the Government’s claims about too many administrative and corporate roles in the health system.

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Kerry Davies says the experience of members is that underfunding is the cause of financial issues at Te Whatu Ora rather than an excess of corporate and administrative roles.

The PSA represents more than 24,000 workers in Te Whatu Ora. These include clinical and non-clinical workers who offer direct patient support, as well as administrators, analysts, policy, data and digital, and other specialist workers.

"Our members’ experience is that there isn’t just a clinical workforce shortage. Many administration and corporate roles are under-staffed and this is having impacts on patients. The hiring freeze since June has made matters worse," Davies says.

"Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Health Minister Shane Reti are trying to demonise health administrators because it serves their political agenda to gut public services. But these workers are the people who follow up after our children’s immunisations, who ring us up to let us know our MRI has been booked, and work on the tech infrastructure to modernise how our health information is held.

"People working on the ground have no idea what the politicians are talking about. But they know the disruption caused to their services is incredibly distressing to staff and patients.

"We have seen this cycle of clinicians being forced to do clerical work because of unwise health cuts under the previous National-led government," Davies says.

This experience of pressure on administrative roles is backed up by analysis of the data Te Whatu Ora publishes. This data shows workers employed in the new health districts, which match the 20 former District Health Board areas brought together as Te Whatu Ora in 2022.

This data shows that there has been lower growth in workers classed as corporate and other (everything from a call centre worker to the head of a hospital) compared with the seven categories of worker providing clinical and patient care.

Since 2018 the growth in corporate and other workers of 19% has been well behind the growth in clinical and direct patient care staff of 27%.

"This data points to parts of Te Whatu Ora having too few non-clinical roles, which are essential for supporting clinical and patient care," Davies says.

Members’ experience

When Te Whatu Ora instigated its hiring freeze in June, the PSA asked members working in the 20 health districts for their experience of roles their impacts on patients and staff of roles that were currently unfilled.

The more than 300 responses we received painted a picture of a health system stretched by unfilled vacancies, including non-clinical roles, to a point where patients are being negatively impacted and workers left facing high levels of stress and burnout.

An example provided of an important administrative role is the work done by staff booking patient appointments to ensure the best use of clinical resources.

"Our members who work in booking administration were clear that understaffing was having an impact on patients. If appointments are not booked early and clearly and adequately communicated, then patients miss out on care or experience delays which can make their condition worse," Davies says.

"Receptionists, who are the are the first person a patient sees, play an important role in ensuring the system works efficiently. Short staffing in reception cause stress and delays, which leads to wasted clinical time," Davies says.

"Understaffed financial teams create risks for patient care with late payment of invoices putting delivery of clinical supplies needed for care at risk.

"The data and our members’ experience are evidence that the complex issues facing the health system need more from Ministers charged with addressing them than just sloganeering.

"The Government made a choice to fund $14 billion of tax cuts when it should be properly funding the health system. The chickens are now coming home to roost and patients are suffering," Davies says.

Ends

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New Zealand’s challenges of safeguarding our environment and combatting climate change will get harder with the Ministry for the Environment confirming plans to cut its workforce by over a quarter in coming years.

Final decisions were announced to staff today in response to the Government spending cuts. It plans to reduce its current full-time workforce of 988 roles to 707.5 by January 2026. This includes voluntary redundancies and the ending of fixed-term roles.

"This is just another sad indictment of the Government’s ability to front up to the serious and complex challenges we face as a country," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

May’s Budget slashed the Ministry’s funding by $316 million, impacting programmes across climate change, freshwater protection, waste minimisation, biodiversity, environmental reporting, funding for the Climate Change Commission and support for groups taking legal action on environmental issues.

"As we have said all along, how can $14 billion of tax cuts make sense when this country grapples with so many big challenges?

"It’s simply irresponsible that just days after global temperatures hit their highest level in recorded history, the Government is content to sit by and allow the knee capping of one of the key agencies helping us adapt to climate change."

The Copernicus Climate Change Service said the planet’s average temperature on July 21 was 17.09C - breaking a record set only last year.

"The Government continues to bury its head in the sand on these issues, ignoring its own officials who warned it the environment was under severe pressure."

The PSA is pleased that the Ministry’s leadership has been constructive and reduced proposed job losses in response to feedback from PSA members who mobilised to push back on initial proposals - particularly ensuring that te ao Māori capability and capacity is retained.

"The Government’s priorities are all wrong. While the Ministry for the Environment is doing the best it can, this is still not the time for any job losses.

"Our heart goes out to all impacted workers at this Ministry whose vital work in gathering the evidence the Government needs to make good decisions is no longer valued."

ENDS

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The treacherous actions by this Government to overturn a Court of Appeal decision covering Māori customary rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the foreshore and seabed legislation is a despicable abuse of power.

"We are appalled by the Government’s decision to pass legislation overturning the Court of Appeal decision of last year," said Janice Panoho, Te Kaihautū Māori for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

The foreshore and seabed controversy dates back to 2004 when the Government passed the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This legislation effectively overturned a landmark Court of Appeal decision in the Ngāti Apa case, which had recognised that Māori could potentially establish customary ownership of parts of the foreshore and seabed through the courts.

The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities.

Through illegal means and confiscation by the Crown and their agents, Māori have a small fraction of the coastline - about 10% - which would be up for customary marine title (CMT). This was the intention of a 2011 law, the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, which aimed to replace the 2004 Act and provide a pathway for Māori to seek recognition of their customary rights.

The Court of Appeal judgment issued on October 18 last year changed the law passed by Parliament and would make it easier for iwi and hapu to have customary title recognised by the courts.

"This was a step towards justice for Māori. However, the Minister is trying to justify his action by saying, ‘What we’re trying to do is to balance the natural expectations of all New Zealanders to have a broadly equal say in what goes on in coastal areas."

"This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. There is no honour or democracy in overturning the Court of Appeal decision (2011); it is one-sided and constitutes unlawful access onto Māori land. Where is the natural justice in this decision?

"The Minister believes his explanation of modern democracy gives the government the right to repeal the legislation and allow access onto Iwi Coastal land (indigenous people of Aotearoa). One must wonder if the same rights would apply to the public access of coastal areas through privately owned property, consistent with the Minister’s claim of ‘modern democracy.’

"Again, no consultation with Iwi Māori, and it is so disappointing that Māori Ministers from the Coalition Government are supporting the decision.

"The ongoing struggle over the foreshore and seabed is a stark reminder of the Crown's historical and continuing disregard for Māori sovereignty and customary rights.

"It underscores the urgent need for genuine consultation and partnership with Iwi Māori, in line with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to ensure that Māori voices are heard and their rights respected," said Janice Panoho.

ENDS

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- 44 jobs proposed to go across teams in Hospital and Specialty Services, including Manager Disabled Peoples Health, and Commissioning

- Te Whatu Ora CE concedes it could complicate changes already underway

The Government should be funding the health system properly rather than axing more jobs in a rushed and reckless attempt to save money.

"Make no mistake, today’s restructuring will only complicate the ability of Te Whatu Ora to deliver a more effective health system," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Te Whatu Ora is proposing to cut 44 roles across teams that in many cases have only recently been established through other change proposals to support the overall process that aims to unify and simplify the health system.

Vital expertise in Māori health will also be lost with the proposal to axe the Director Māori Health and the Chief Advisor Māori Health roles.

"This latest change has blindsided health workers at Te Whatu Ora who are already coping with a series of restructures this year alone. Why impose more change on top of other significant change?" said Davies.

"The Te Whatu Ora chief executive concedes this is a challenge, telling impacted staff today, ‘I am mindful of where many teams are at in their change journeys, and this could be seen to further complicate change not yet fully implemented.’"

One PSA member who faces being disestablished for the second time in a year, says this proposal came out of nowhere.

"We are just baffled by the logic of this. The work we do will still have to be done, but the burden will now fall on other teams, which have already been stripped back so this change means they will just be less effective in helping design and implement a better health system for New Zealanders.

"It just feels like the work I do is not important enough to Ministers - yet it still has to be done or the whole system won’t work well. It makes no sense."

"If this latest change has been triggered by a so called ‘financial crisis’ then it’s all the Government’s own making," said Kerry Davies. "It made a choice to give away billions of dollars in tax cuts, rather than properly funding the health system New Zealanders need.

"Now it’s desperately searching for savings everywhere and looking for scapegoats. Further restructuring is not going to help.

"The Prime Minister talks about ‘management mush’ being removed - this disrespects the important work people are doing to make the new health system work better. It’s insulting to so many health workers.

"The PSA urges the Government to think again and pause this restructure. If it really wants to deliver better health services to New Zealanders, then give the health system the funds it needs to do the job."

ENDS

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

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Further huge health cuts unveiled by the Government will only harm the services New Zealanders depend on.

"The Government is being irresponsible in ordering further deep cuts at a time it should be investing more in the health service," said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary Warwick Jones.

"The Government chose to give $14 billion in tax cuts to landlords and middle-income earners and ignore the clear need for significant additional investment in health to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population, and the increasing cost of medical technology.

"We are not talking about the budget for a household or a business. Budgeting in health has for a long time been about population growth requiring increased investment to just maintain current levels of service provision, let alone fix well-documented major workforce issues.

"After so much restructuring in health in recent years, proposing even more smacks of a secret agenda.

"First it was Kāinga Ora, and now it’s Te Whatu Ora. We are deeply concerned the Government is setting the stage for increasing privatisation of health services," says Jones.

Minister Reti referred to growth of administrative and management roles as a reason for drastic action.

"Our experience is the system has been losing people, not adding to the workforce. This is another major health decision that seems to be taking place in a totally different reality to the one health workers are living in.

"There have been 18 change processes for health workers in the last two years alone. The whole point of them was to ‘simplify to unify,’ including reducing duplication of roles as 29 DHBs and entities became one. It is extremely unclear who the Minister is talking about."

Workforce data held by the PSA indicates administrative workforce levels have not changed significantly since the (the DHB) Administration and Clerical pay equity claim - a process that went from 2018 to 2022.

"Is the Minister referring to people who moved to Te Whatu Ora from the Ministry of Health, the Health Promotion Agency, or other entities as new roles? Management positions have been created but they replace roles of local managers at DHBs, not generating a raft of new ones."

"Endless change does not lead to a strong and effective health system; it leads to chaos and brings a great emotional toll."

"It is unfathomable to think a health system already under significant strain could restrict $1.4 billion further without impacting how people receive health services," Jones says.

ENDS

Further information:

The PSA represents more than 25,000 allied, public health, scientific, technical, nursing, and administration workers in hospitals and community health services.

ENDS

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The PSA is calling for Auckland Council to stop privatising the management of pools and leisure centres and consult with the people of Auckland.

The Council has gone through a business case process and tenders have closed. After a workshop on 24 July, it will decide on 1 August whether to hand management of all pools and leisure centres to private interests. All this has happened without any consultation with the public.

"Our pools and leisure centres are for the people," said Kyran Narayan-Patel, delegate for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA). "Private businesses will just run them for their own profit, putting the quality of facilities and programs at risk. It’s up to the Council to deliver great services, not enrich private interests."

The proposal would see Auckland Council outsource management of the 22 facilities it currently operates. Nineteen other facilities already have outsourced management, and another is leased to a third-party provider.

Legislation requires the Council to review how it delivers its services, and it doesn’t have to consult with the public. "But just because Council can do that doesn’t mean they should," said Narayan-Patel. "Our communities should have a say."

"Council pools and leisure centres are an essential part of community life and wellbeing for Aucklanders of all ages, abilities and walks of life," said PSA President Benedict Ferguson. "We go there to learn, to swim, play sport, and have fun.

"More private management will just make the facilities we rely on less effective and less accountable. When council staff run a network of facilities, they can share resources, skills and expertise to make the facilities more efficient and effective.

"And keeping management in public hands keeps Council directly accountable for running our pools well, and for the safety of tamariki, rangitahi and whānau who use our pools daily."

The Council is looking at this privatisation to save costs. PSA Delegate Gaby Frigerio said this short-term thinking may well backfire.

"Outsourcing isn’t always sustainable in the long term. Setting up and monitoring contracts is expensive, and the private sector can’t guarantee it can provide services at a lower cost than the Council."

"Ultimately, what belongs to the public should stay in control of the public," said Frigerio.

ENDS

Note: The PSA represents members working across Council-run pools and leisure centres, including lifeguards, recreation assistants, customer support representatives, fitness consultants, Learn to Swim instructors, and team leaders.

Related documents

• PL infosheet mediaAdobe Acrobat PDF file | 143 KB

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The PSA has today filed proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority alleging Oranga Tamariki is not complying with the collective agreement relating to change processes.

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the action is being taken to stop dismissals until Oranga Tamariki and PSA work through the provisions of the collective.

"We are asking Oranga Tamariki to pause the change process and for no dismissals to take place as it will take some time to work through the provisions in the collective agreement. We are asking for the Government to re-think these dangerous cuts that will hurt children," Fitzsimons says.

Oranga Tamariki is looking to axe 419 net roles to meet the Government’s requirements for spending cuts.

Fitzsimons says the PSA has consistently raised this breach of the change management process agreed in the collective agreement with Oranga Tamariki without success.

"Kaimahi and the PSA have consistently raised grave concerns about the scale and nature of change at Oranga Tamariki, the devastating impact on affected kaimahi and their whānau, and the negative impact on the essential services that Oranga Tamariki provides to tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau.

"Our overall position remains that we reject the destructive political agenda that the current Government has adopted with respect to public services generally and Oranga Tamariki specifically. The work of PSA members delivering these critical public and community services is much too valuable to be subject to such deep cuts," Fitzsimons says.

The legal action against Oranga Tamariki is similar in some respects to the case the PSA successfully took against Ministry of Education (MOE). In a determination last week, the Authority agreed with the PSA’s interpretation of the collective agreement in relation to the application of the MOE change process.

"Though there are some differences, the Oranga Tamariki and MOE collective agreements both provide a role for the union in proposing the nature of change and reaching agreement on recommendations to management who must then take them on board. In both ministries, the employers have not complied with this requirement.

"We are hopeful that we will not need to argue this case before the Employment Relations Authority given the clear decision in the MOE case.

"We have asked for an order from the Authority to attend mediation in an attempt to settle this dispute," Fitzsimons says..

ENDS

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The Employment Relations Authority’s determination in favour of PSA in its case against the Ministry of Education over its change process is an important victory for Ministry workers, the PSA says.

The PSA filed proceedings in the Authority because of the Ministry’s failure to comply with the collective agreement in relation to job losses forced by the Government’s spending cuts.

Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Fleur Fitzsimons said the Authority agreed with the PSA’s interpretation of the collective agreement.

"This decision is a victory for dignity and fair treatment of people at work. The attempt to dismiss hundreds of workers by the Ministry is found to be unlawful," Fitzsimons said

"The Authority accepted the PSA’s interpretation that the collective agreement has not been complied with by the employer. This is because despite what the Ministry tried to argue, there was no attempt to engage the PSA as an active participant in the change," Fitzsimons said.

"The Authority found that the Ministry used the PSA to receive and disseminate information but that the collective provided for a far more engaged process with the aim of making recommendations to the Ministry which they must then take into account.

"The Authority also agreed with the PSA position that the Ministry was required to adopt a case-by-case approach to the outcomes for individuals. This means considering matters such as retraining, leave without pay, early retirement, severance and assisting people into other work for each individual," Fitzsimons said.

This consideration also includes a requirement that severance for redundancy can only be implemented once the Ministry and the PSA have agreed it is an available option and once the individual has agreed to take the option.

The case-by-case approach and the approach to agreeing options including severance is an very important provision in the collective agreement and now the Ministry must comply with it," Fitzsimons said.

"It will ensure a more dignified approach to any changes in the future. It also means that the Ministry should reconsider its approach to matters including reopening voluntary redundancy and reducing its reliance on contractors."

In terms of the importance of the principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and pono (doing the right thing), the Authority found that these were "significant", Fitzsimons said.

The PSA has agreed it will meet with the Ministry once both parties have had a chance to digest the decision.

The Ministry has 28 days to file an appeal to the Employment Court.

A total of 755 roles are proposed to be disestablished at the Ministry. They cover people working in regional offices, the Curriculum Centre, central services, those who work directly with the education sector and in support of the wider education sector workforce.

ENDS

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Some 300 workers at the New Zealand Blood Service are celebrating a pay parity settlement that puts them on par with workers employed by Te Whatu Ora who do the same jobs.

"This settlement will help many health workers better cope with the cost-of-living pressures on their household budget," said Ashok Shankar, Health Sector Lead at the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Lab workers, scientists, technicians, and administrators at New Zealand Blood Service have voted to accept a pay offer which was made following industrial action in May and June.

"People working at New Zealand Blood Service knew it wasn’t right they were getting paid significantly less than their colleagues at Te Whatu Ora," said Shankar.

"They collectively stood up for themselves by taking strike action. This settlement will make a big difference for themselves and their families, and to strong blood services people can rely on."

"We sent a clear message then that an offer that failed to provide pay parity with our Te Whatu Ora colleagues and compensate for cost-of-living pressures was unacceptable. The poor pay and inequity has been forcing people out of the service and making it harder to recruit so we’re very happy to have made this breakthrough at long last."

The offer provides a range of increases recognising pay parity and cost of living pressures of between 17% and 40%.

People working at the New Zealand Blood Service deliver all major blood services in Aotearoa. They organise donation drives, match donations with patients, process and transport blood and blood products, and manage hospital blood banks for both public and private health services.

"Our members do incredibly important work at the New Zealand Blood Service to ensure blood is delivered at the right time in the right way to ensure patients get what they need for operations and other procedures across the public and private health services," said Shankar.

ENDS

Further information:

- NZ Blood Service is both a Crown Entity and Public Benefit Entity.

- PSA members work in administrative, scientific, logistics, and donor coordination roles. Their work includes processing blood products, managing stock and blood banks, ensuring blood products are transported safely and on-time, working with community groups to organise blood-drives, and booking, scheduling, and matching special donors for emergency situations.

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The Government is set to axe the expert joint agency teams charged with unclogging the justice system, at the same time the country is facing unprecedented court delays, and a prison system straining from a blowout in the remand population.

New Zealand has a huge problem with court delays, given 43% of prisoners are unsentenced and awaiting court processes. This is a complete anomaly internationally and the team established to respond to this is now being cut.

"It’s hard to understand why a ‘tough on crime’ Government which needs the justice system to work better and faster would allow this to happen," said Alex Davies, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"It’s just another own goal from these reckless, short-sighted spending cuts."

The Ministry of Justice is proposing to shed 68 roles from the two teams at Justice and Corrections focused on speeding up and improving the justice system. These teams are tasked with working together to improve outcomes and efficiency across the whole system, including speeding up defendants’ cases being heard, minimising time spent on remand, and reversing the increased wastage of court time by reducing the number of court adjournments at sentencing.

"The Government in its latest quarterly plan makes law and order a top priority. That means a focus on jailing more offenders for longer and increasing the number of people facing charges and being held on remand.

"That will pile more pressure on an already stressed justice system, particularly our overpopulated prisons. Cutting the team dedicated to delivering the better outcomes the Government is demanding of all public services undermines the whole system and does nothing to advance law and order.

"The expertise that Corrections brings to the problem is being dumped, leaving a much smaller team at Justice to keep doing this important mahi. By choosing to site the new team solely within Justice, the benefits of cross agency analysis will be lost.

"The criminal justice pipeline is by nature an interdependent ecosystem, where levers pulled in one agency, affect others. For this reason, cross agency efforts have been essential to improve how the system works for those who experience it.

"The teams being disestablished are specifically focused on ensuring timely access to justice, improving victims’ experience, supporting access to lawyers on remand, refining contact between the Parole Board and victims, and reducing roadblocks to progressing cases.

"A safe and just New Zealand is about more than building prison beds. If the Government wants to deliver on its rhetoric, then the people they are getting rid of are the people that have the expertise to make the system work better for everyone.

"None of this makes sense and shows again how poorly thought through these spending cuts are.
"As we have seen with so many other cuts, this is all driven by ideology, downsizing the public service without regard to the consequences for all of us in Aotearoa who need our public service to function efficiently and justly," said Alex Davies.

Background note

- The Ministry of Justice is proposing to shed 68 roles from two teams at Justice and Corrections, merging the High Impact Innovation Programme (HIIP) team at Corrections with the Sector Directorate team at Justice.

- 47 roles are proposed to go from HIIP and 21 from the Sector Directorate.

- The smaller merged team comprising 25 roles would be housed at Justice and serve the justice sector (Justice, Courts, Police, Corrections, Crown Law and Oranga Tamariki).

ENDS

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Solving the severe shortages of specialist mental health workers should be the priority right now and Te Whatu Ora must start hiring immediately or more specialist staff will go overseas.

New government mental health care targets were unveiled today which include a target of training 500 mental health and addiction professionals each year.

"Targets are all well and good but are largely meaningless without commitments to resources and specific timelines," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This just feels like more spin without substance and fails to respond to the current staffing crisis in the acute sector.

"We welcome the new $10m Mental Health Innovation Fund. While it is half of the promise made during the election, it does provide much needed funding for the community sector. But we urge the Government to direct funding to the established and respected network of community NGOs who provide effective services now.

"A problem still remains with the acute sector. Mental health and addiction workers need more resources now so they can operate in a safe environment and provide the round the clock care many patients need.

"Across the country acute mental health services are under the pump. Our members are overworked and facing burnout and Te Whatu Ora is turning a blind eye.

"This is all being made worse by Te Whatu Ora refusing to hire staff because of the current recruitment pause. We know in some areas 90% of staff are doing overtime. That is just not sustainable, for them, and not good for those they care for.

"All this adds to a toxic and unsafe environment which is simply leading many workers to look across the Tasman for better opportunities.

"The Government has a target that 95% of mental health and addiction-related cases that arrive at emergency departments are admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.

"Our acute mental facilities are already full to overflowing, but no more beds are being planned. And our emergency departments are already under strain so how can this work without extra facilities in these departments?

"Currently to admit one patient into these units means that one must be discharged. We already see patients being discharged who are not ready. This puts a huge strain in the Community Mental Health Services which must look after and manage acute patients in the community. We don’t want to see more acute patients being released into the community.

"Mental health services are struggling to cope with business as usual, let alone meet these aspirational targets, so we ask the Minister to provide some concrete measures to turn this situation around urgently. Patients and workers need that support today, not tomorrow."

ENDS

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Te Whatu Ora’s decision to scrap Covid sick leave for health workers will endanger the very lives of people they are caring for.

Te Whatu Ora today announced it was scrapping the leave provisions by 14 July despite the current spike in Covid cases including Covid related deaths. Until now, Covid sick leave allowed health workers to keep each other and patients safe knowing any Covid leave would be paid by their employer.

"This is simply irresponsible at a time when we are seeing a surge in Covid cases - taking away sick leave will cause more Covid transmission in hospitals amongst ill and vulnerable people," said Andrew Skelly, National Sector Lead - Health for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

The PSA represents more than 25,000 allied, public health, scientific, technical, nursing and administration workers who support people in hospitals and through community health services.

Aotearoa is just emerging from its sixth big wave of Covid transmission in 30 months. At its peak, the most recent wave saw 55 people a day hospitalised.

"People working in healthcare must be able to stay home when they get sick, or people’s lives will be put at risk."

The PSA is one of many health unions alarmed by the change and are urging Te Whatu Ora to reverse its decision.

"We are seriously concerned about long-Covid and other significant health impacts on people working in every part of our hospitals to keep them running, administrators, anaesthetic technicians, social workers, everyone.

"Health workers are more likely to get multiple Covid reinfections by virtue of where they work. Their employer should be doing everything possible to protect them and patients."

Te Whatu Ora advised managers to grant discretionary leave to people who have run out of sick leave but become ill again. Discretionary leave has historically been a problem for workers to access and if paid has been after someone has returned to work.

"We have been given no rationale. This appears to be another penny-pinching mechanism chipping away at public health at the expense of patients and workers," said Andrew Skelly.

The PSA has advised members to stay at home if they are unwell to reduce the risk of Covid spreading. Members should contact their union for support in any situation where they are pressured by their employer to act against the requirements for a healthy and safe workplace.

ENDS

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Joint release from E tū, PSA, and NZNO

Hundreds of people came together across the country today (Monday 1 July) at rallies calling on the Government to fully fund a pay equity settlement for care and support workers.

The three care and support unions, E tū, PSA, and NZNO, organised the rallies in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

Workers chose today to rally because it marks two years since the claim was initiated and no settlement has been reached. Care and support workers at the rallies called on the Government to recognise their value.

"Imagine a world where our work is truly valued, where our contributions are fairly compensated" said PSA delegate Pinky Kumawat in her speech from Wellington. "This isn't just a dream; it's a demand for justice."

In Wellington, NZNO delegate Anita Cook said, "Some of my colleagues regularly work 16 hours straight - some of them have even worked 24 hours straight. Vulnerable Kiwis depend on us for ensuring their well-being and livelihoods."

E tū delegate Cushla Rahman got a resounding response in Auckland when she asked her fellow workers: "Do you feel like me; undervalued, not appreciated, and underpaid?"

"Pay equity means that caregivers can afford to have a life outside of their job," said Cook. "And that means we have refreshed caregivers coming to work and giving their best. It means less burnout, less unplanned leave, and better care."

The claim affects 65,000 people working in disability support, aged residential care, home support, and mental health and addictions support. The unions have worked with employers and Government in good faith for two years to reach a settlement, providing extensive evidence that care and support workers are underpaid.

ENDS

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Care and support workers up and down the country will be rallying on Monday 1 July, calling on the Government to fully fund a pay equity settlement.

The three care and support unions, E tū, PSA, and NZNO, have organised public rallies in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

The rallies are the next step in a long campaign for the workers’ pay equity claim, with recent developments including filing with the Employment Relations Authority.

E tū residential aged care worker, Marianne Bishop, says the Government must front up.

“We have been waiting far too long for a decent pay equity settlement,” Marianne says.

“The care and support workforce is an essential part of our health system and our wider communities. We do these jobs because we love the work and we want to do the best we can.

“We are really worried about the future of the sector if there isn’t a proper settlement really soon. We can’t attract and retain workers if they know they’re only going to be paid a pittance. We have an ageing workforce and an ageing population – unless we fix this now, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“There’s a simple solution. The Government must front up and fund a proper settlement. If they have $2.9 billion for landlords, I can’t understand why they won’t hurry up and pay us what we are worth.”

PSA disability support worker Pinky Kumawat says the effects of low pay take a real toll on the workforce.

“Support workers are working two or even three jobs to get by. The constant grind takes a toll on our wellbeing and family lives.”

“Pay equity would mean being able to think about taking a break, even a one-day holiday. It would motivate more people to do this work and we could help more people. Why would the Government hold back when the solution is right there?”

NZNO national delegate for aged care Marita Ansin-Johnson says workers deserve much better recognition for their roles.

“I am proud to work in this area of health because it gives me great satisfaction that I am giving the highest care possible to our best link to the past.

“The Government has demonstrated even this week with cancer treatment funding that it does have the potential to ease the crisis in aged care.

“If we want a society in which humanity is important and where there is love and compassion towards each other then we need to take a close look at who we care for and how we care for them. We need more people employed in aged care, people who will care for our kaumātua.”

Care and support roles include people working in disability support, aged residential care, home support, and mental health and addictions support.

Nationwide rallies 1 July 2024

Auckland: 2pm at Victoria Park, Auckland CBD.

Hamilton: 1:30pm meet at PSA office – 489 Anglesea street.

New Plymouth: 3pm at the new E tū office: 139 Powderham street, New Plymouth Central.

Palmerston North: 12pm at The Square/Te Marae o Hine (next to The Verdict cafe).

Wellington: 1:30pm at Heretaunga Boating Club, 138 The Esplanade, Petone.

Nelson: 1:30pm meet at Nelson City Council – 110 Trafalgar Street.

Christchurch: 1:30pm at Hornby Club, 17 Carmen Road, Hornby.

Timaru: 1:30pm – corner of Wai-Iti Road and Evans Street.

Dunedin: 12pm outside Median Mall, 285 George Street.

Invercargill: 1:45pm meet at E tū office, 33 Don street.

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The fabric of New Zealanders’ social security system is being unravelled by Government spending cuts meaning children, young people, workers, those who are injured and others will find they will no longer get the support they need, the PSA said today.

The Government is axing more than 1400 roles across three critical agencies - Oranga Tamariki, ACC and the Ministry of Social Development. Final decisions announced today will see the following net reduction in roles:

- 419 - Oranga Tamariki

- 300 - ACC

- 86 - Ministry of Social Development (bringing total roles cut at MSD to around 700)

"The cumulative effect of these cuts will see more than 1400 roles going from vital support services that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders rely on," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

ACC and Oranga Tamariki today announced final decisions for the overall structure of both agencies to meet the Government’s spending cuts, while the Ministry of Social Development unveiled final decisions on its latest restructuring proposal.

"This is a dark day for our social welfare safety net which was once the admired the world over," said Fitzsimons.

"ACC, MSD and Oranga Tamariki are the three pillars of New Zealand’s social security system. All New Zealanders at some stage of our lives have been supported by these agencies.

"The Government is blind to the impacts the erosion of these pillars will have on New Zealanders, young and old. These costs will be felt for generations to come.

"Our heart goes out to all impacted workers and their families, whose lives have been disrupted by these callous and dangerous cuts, which are more driven by ideology than the values we hold dear as a nation to support each other."

Ministry of Social Development

The significant cuts will see hundreds of people going from MSD, the very people who make the system work effectively for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who need the support that MSD workers provide, said Fitzsimons.

"The cuts to MSD staffing are reckless at a time of rising need as job losses are increasing, people are struggling with the cost of living and as our ageing population grows.

"MSD staff also provide vital support to people coping with the aftermath of storms and floods. It makes no sense for the Government to be hollowing out the country’s ability to respond to adverse weather events and natural disasters," said Fitzsimons.

ACC

The loss of 300 roles at ACC will mean the agency charged with preventing injuries, supporting those recovering from injury and getting them back to work will not be able to perform its role due to this dangerous cost cutting exercise.

"We have seen in the past that ACC spending cuts mean declining claims, limiting client’s access to entitlements (like home care hours or home modifications) and returning injured people to work before they are ready."

The PSA is particularly concerned at the significant cuts to the Injury Prevention teams confirmed today.

"This is a vital area dealing with workplace safety, prevention of sexual violence, and road safety. This work is all about ensuring accidents and injuries don’t happen in the first place. A government so focused on reducing costs and ‘better outcomes’ should be investing more in these areas, not less," said Fleur Fitzsimons.

Oranga Tamariki

Tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau, will bear the brunt of the Government’s spending cuts at Oranga Tamariki - the agency charged with supporting children and young people at risk.

Jobs are being lost across the country including those supporting residential and youth justice facilities, more than 60 in the Māori, Partnerships and Communities team, the legal team, and those helping to improve the agency.

"These cuts will make the lives of children and young people worse," said Fitzsimons.

"It’s particularly disappointing that specialist Māori roles are still being removed as these people have unique skills working with whānau and are critical to the success of Oranga Tamariki," said Fitzsimons.

ENDS

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Tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau, will bear the brunt of the Government’s spending cuts at the agency charged with supporting children and young people at risk.

Oranga Tamariki today confirmed final decisions to axe 419 specialist jobs to meet Government demands for spending cuts.

Jobs are being lost across the country including those supporting residential and youth justice facilities, more than 60 in the Māori, Partnerships and Communities team, the legal team, and those helping to improve the agency.

"These cuts will make the lives of children and young people worse," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"It’s particularly disappointing that specialist Māori roles are still being removed as these people have unique skills working with whānau and are critical to the success of Oranga Tamariki.

"At a time of rising need and increasing pressure on families the last thing the Government should be doing is making deep cuts to the very agency that supports children and young people.

"We say to the dedicated public service workers at Oranga Tamariki, this is not about you or a reflection on your value or the contribution you have made to New Zealand, but about the Government’s heartless obsession with cutting spending to fund tax cuts.

"Today, we see the cost of those tax cuts and children and young people will pay that price. The Government is putting ideology ahead of the care of children.

"Today the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care has been delivered to the Governor General, the scene is set for child abuse to go unchecked all over again with these cuts.

"For the Government to claim today’s cuts are about more resources for the frontline at Oranga Tamariki is just wrong. The cuts affect jobs at the frontline and make life harder and workloads greater for social workers.

"These cuts will simply load more work on the shoulders of those remaining and that will not lead to the better outcomes the Government promises. No review of Oranga Tamariki has ever recommended cutting jobs to improve the care it provides; this is just wrong.

"This is a sad day for such a vital agency and the dedicated workers who support it."

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Following the disestablishment of the Pay Equity Taskforce and in response to government savings requirements the Commission has today announced it is removing jobs from teams responsible for diversity and inclusion work.

Te Kawa Mataaho, Public Service Commission today released its final decisions to meet the Government’s demand to cut spending by 7.5%. The decisions see a net loss of 28 roles, including in teams working on gender and ethnic pay initiatives.

These are the teams leading work on important initiatives like the gender pay action plan, removing gender and ethnic pay gaps, and improving outcomes for disadvantaged groups.

"You need a public service that’s representative of the community they serve, if they’re going to serve that community well. Downsizing the teams delivering public service-wide strategies and work programmes to make our services more diverse and more representative is a massive step backwards."

"Once again, we see the flawed logic of the Government’s spending cuts which will only undermine its ability to achieve the very outcomes it talks so loudly about," said Kerry Davies.

The Commission is also shedding experts across its workforce, communications and senior leadership teams as part of the reductions.

"Driving a more efficient and representative public service is what these roles are all about. The end result of all this will be a public service unable to deliver the quality public services New Zealanders need."

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Cuts come as technology companies call for Govt to provide leadership.

The Government is downsizing teams driving greater digitisation of public services and safeguarding personal data despite calls from the tech industry to accelerate digitisation.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) today delivered final decisions on the new structure for the Digital Public Service group which includes the team charged with accelerating the digitisation of public services and the Government’s Chief Privacy Officer function.

17 roles are being axed, including 8 roles in the privacy area, about one in ten workers across this group.

"These cuts will compromise the security and privacy of information about New Zealanders," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The Government says it wants more digital Government services but is dismissing the very workers who help people access these services online.

"The Minister for Digitising Government Judith Collins says they want a ‘customer focused digital Government service for New Zealanders’. So why lay off the very people doing this work? Ministers have gone through these decisions ‘line by line’ so we can only conclude she is happy with these cuts.

"New Zealanders trust the public service with deeply personal and sensitive information, this is at risk with the decimation of the privacy function. These public servants provide critical oversight of how the public service protects the personal information of millions of New Zealanders. The loss of this leadership for the public sector is dangerous.

"Helping more Kiwis access services online saves the Government money and helps Kiwis get the information and services they need faster. But it can only happen if we are reassured our personal information is adequately protected.

"All of this flies in the face of what New Zealand’s technology leaders are demanding of the Government."

On Tuesday the Technology Users Association, which represents 170 large and small technology companies, released its 2024 Digital Priorities Report. It called on the Government to ‘create a clear strategy and plan for digital transformation of public services’.

Consider what one expert said. ‘The longer we hold onto legacy technology in Public Sector environments and infrastructure environments around the country, [the more] we are going to create a bigger divide between New Zealand and the rest of the world’ (Jason Lewis, Massey University, Manager Smart Collaboration Services).

"The Government maintains it listens to business in other areas, so it should listen to business on this vital issue if it wants to keep up with the world and help business harness digital opportunities. Digitising public services plays a key role in this.

"New Zealand’s digital leaders clearly want the Government to accelerate accessing public services online and protecting Kiwis’ private data from increasingly sophisticated cyber security attacks and the growing threats from AI.

"That’s why the Government should be investing more in these important areas rather than being obsessed with finding savings everywhere to fund tax cuts.

"This just undermines the very priorities it has set for itself," said Fleur Fitzsimons.

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One in five frontline workers axed from Digital Safety and Anti-Money Laundering groups

The Government has agreed deep cuts to the specialist digital safety and anti-money laundering teams that protect New Zealanders from online harm, scams and other crime despite warnings about the dire consequences for children.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) today announced final decisions for the Regulation and Policy branch with 76 roles axed as part of spending cuts of 7% demanded by the Government.

Around one in five roles are going at the Digital Safety and Anti-Money Laundering groups - a net loss of 22 roles across both groups.

"This is reckless and disturbing, and more Kiwis will be scammed, exposed to violent extremism and sexual exploitation at a time of rising harm online. It makes no sense," said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"These are workers at the very frontline of protecting New Zealanders from online harm and international crime syndicates. This is yet another clear example of frontline workers being sacrificed for an ideological obsession with small government.

"How can this be evidence-based policy when all the evidence shows this harm is rising and becoming more sophisticated with the explosion of AI? The Minister of Internal Affairs knows this - DIA advised her so in November, stating;

‘The Department’s Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System has blocked 4.6 million views of child exploitation in the last five years. The Department received 238,000 reports of potential scams to our 7726 unsolicited TXT message service in 2022/23, which is about ninety times more than received in 2019/20.’

"We all want a digital world which is safer for our children, but clearly the Minister is OK with decimating our defences. These changes were first proposed in late April, she’s had nearly two months to stop this, but has chosen not to. And she’s ignored the alarm expressed by experts including the Online Safety Coalition that these cuts are dangerous.

"The Government has said all Ministers went through spending cuts ‘line by line’ so the Minister of Internal Affairs must know what is happening here.’ This is a price she seems willing to pay to fund tax cuts.

"The Minister told media recently she expected the Digital Safety team to maintain the same level of service with the available resourcing. Who is she fooling?

"Workers left behind will shoulder increasing responsibilities and risks will rise that those wanting to exploit New Zealanders will get through our weakened protections."

The Government is also downsizing the Anti Money Laundering Directorate. The team works with overseas counterparts and supervises more than 5,000 financial institutions and other non-financial businesses and professions to ensure they comply with measures to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

"It’s part of our international obligations to take money laundering seriously. It’s not just New Zealand’s criminal underworld, but international drug rings, gangs, and terrorists who rely on money laundering to finance their activities.

"The rest of the world is investing more in protecting their physical and online borders from rising threats, including more sophisticated cyber terrorism and online scams, yet this Government is blindly going in the wrong direction and exposing New Zealanders to more risk. It’s just wrong.

"All this again shows how poorly thought through the Government’s spending cuts have been and New Zealanders will pay a high price for the mistakes it is making," said Fleur Fitzsimons.

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Summary

The Department of Internal Affairs Regulation and Policy Branch

76 roles to be disestablished - 40 currently vacant. This includes:

- Digital Safety - 11 roles disestablished including:

o Principal Advisor and Lead Operational Advisor (Countering Violent Extremism)

o Lead Online Investigator (Digital Child Exploitation)

o Senior Investigator Digital Messaging Systems

o Intelligence analysts

- Anti-Money Laundering Directorate - net loss of 11 roles including Deputy Director Operations, forensic accountant, senior regulators

- Policy - Reduction in policy analysts in Media Content and Online Safety team from five to three

Other parts of the Regulation and Policy Branch impacted include the Gambling Directorate, Strategy, Intelligence and Risk, Strategy and Capability.

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Unions for care and support workers are taking a long-overdue pay equity claim to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) in Wellington at 2pm today.

Almost two years have passed since the claim was initiated with 15 employers and no settlement has been reached. The claim could have implications for 65,000 people working in disability, home, and mental health support, and aged care work.

"Support workers are really struggling. Today we’re calling time’s up - we need pay equity now," says PSA Delegate and Home Support Worker, Rose Penfold.

This is a significant escalation after years of slow and stalled progress. The application to the ERA asks it to make a determination on what the rates of remuneration are for people doing this work free from gender-based discrimination.

The unions - the Public Service Association, E tū, and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation - have worked with employers and Government in good faith for two years to reach a settleme nt.

"We’ve come to the ERA because we can’t wait any longer," says E tū Industry Council Convenor and Support Worker, Marianne Bishop.

"We need care and support workers to have decent jobs, with decent wages. We need access to the right qualifications so we can deliver the quality of care our clients deserve," said Bishop.

The ERA has the authority to fix rates of remuneration to resolve a pay equity claim. The ERA may decide to refer the parties to mediation in the first instance.

"We continue to strongly urge the Government to commit to fully funding a fair settlement, just as they have done before," said NZNO Pay Equity Lead, Glenda Alexander.

Today’s action follows the legacy of the historic 2017 settlement - delivered by the last National-led Government - championed by Lower Hutt aged care worker Kristine Bartlett together with the unions.

Unions have provided extensive evidence that Aotearoa’s disability, home, and mental health support workers, and aged care workers, are once again being significantly underpaid because of gender-based discrimination.

The claim was initiated on July 1, 2022. It directly covers 17,500 workers at 15 employers and has implications for a further 47,500 care and support workers and their employers - many of whom are covered by companion pay equity claims.

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Around one in five roles are being shed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development despite the housing crisis facing the country.

"This is a significant loss of expertise that can only make the task of providing affordable, healthy homes that much harder," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Final decisions delivered to staff today confirmed a loss of 26 roles, on top of disestablishing 52 roles currently vacant. This represents around 20% of the Ministry’s workforce.

The latest cuts impact the Strategy, Insight and Governance, Policy, and Organisational Performance business groups. Further cuts to other business groups are proposed for later this year.

At the same time, the Government’s social housing agency Kāinga Ora is proposing to cut a net 130 roles, an agency at the frontline helping to house New Zealanders.

The Ministry carries out a range of functions, administering laws like the Residential Tenancies Act, working with agencies tackling homelessness, helping Māori communities, and working with the private sector and councils to ensure urban development meets the needs of communities.

"This is vital work. But right now, the Kiwi housing dream is evaporating for many young New Zealanders so investing in the very Ministry doing the big thinking on our housing supply issues would make sense.

"Making the cuts through vacant roles spares some current staff, but it still represents a serious loss of expertise. These roles were considered important only months ago, but now to meet the Government’s demands, they will not be filled, which will have a long-term impact on the effectiveness of the Ministry’s work.

"These cuts will also add to the workloads of staff or simply work will have to stop. As well, the prospect of more cuts will only further fuel anxiety in the Ministry’s workforce. None of this helps the Ministry do its work well.

"The Government has made it a priority to tackle the housing challenge, so this is just another example of spending cuts clashing with its priorities. It underscores again how ill equipped the Government is to seriously meet the many long-term challenges this country faces."

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Government spending cuts will see 123 roles axed at Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health after final decisions were confirmed today.

"Our heart goes out to impacted workers whose lives are being turned upside down at Health and across the public sector as the Government continues on its rushed and reckless campaign of spending cuts," said Fleur Fitzsimons Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

Today’s decision affects around one in six positions at the Ministry. Specialist teams supporting clinical, community, and mental health have been downsized. Cuts include clinical leadership and at the team responsible for protection and rights of those receiving compulsory mental health treatment.

"At the very time when our health system is under pressure from a growing and ageing population, and as the cost medical technology grows, we should be investing in the very Ministry that provides the expert advice and support needed for an effective health system."

The Ministry is continuing with plans to downgrade full time roles at the Suicide Prevention Office but has reversed the decision to remove the Director’s role.

"We welcome the Ministry rethinking this decision and retaining Suicide Prevention leadership. But there is still an overall reduction in full time specialist staff - the responsibility for suicide prevention work will now be just a quarter of the workload of other staff in the mental health and addiction policy area. We hope the importance of this vital work is not diminished in this restructure.

"The PSA is also concerned that the full time Senior Advisor Māori role in the office is still being axed - that doesn’t make sense when the Māori suicide rate is 50% higher than the national rate.

"What this all amounts to is a serious loss of specialist health expertise that helps the health system meet the needs of New Zealanders. This yet another example of the high price to pay for the Government’s misguided plan to downsize the public service and fund tax cuts."

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More than 1000 people marched through central Wellington today (Sat 8 June) as part of a rally opposing the Government’s cuts to public and community services, and in support of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The People Over Profits: Stop the Cuts! rally attracted people representing, iwi, unions, advocacy and community organisations and their supporters who marched from Pukeahu War Memorial Park to Te Papa.

Speakers at the rally called out the Government for its attacks on public services and jobs, education and on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Speakers also called for more support for groups such as disabled people, renters, and rainbow and takatāpui people.

A strong appeal for the Government to fund pay equity for care and support workers was made by Marianne Bishop, aged care support worker and life member of E tū.

Other speakers included Whaea Catherine Love (Te Ati Awa/ Taranaki Whānui); Hayley Whitaker a Hawke's Bay public servant who has lost her job in the cuts; PSA President Benedict Ferguson; PPTA President Chris Abercrombie; Disabled People Against Cuts advocate Etta Bollinger; NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff; Geordie Rogers from Renters United; Ben Peterson from Unite Union, and Edie Freeman of rainbow charity InsideOUT.

Supporters of the event include: ActionStation, the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, The Tertiary Education Union, The Post Primary Teacher's Association, NZEI - Te Riu Roa, FIRST Union, Unite Union, Peace Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa, Public Housing Futures, Renters United, NZ Nurses Organisation, MUNZ - Maritime Union of NZ, VUWSA, Free Fares Aotearoa, the NZ Council of Trade Unions, and Unions Wellington.

Picture credit: Teirangi Klever

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Justice Ministry proposes to cut 11% of workforce at National Office

The Government’s tough on crime promise will be undermined by its own spending cuts as the Ministry of Justice proposes to shed 123 roles in important areas that support the effective functioning of the justice system.

"The wheels of justice may turn slow and for good reason, but they are set to turn even slower," said Duane Leo Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"The proposed loss of roles at the Ministry of Justice again exposes how poorly thought through the Government’s rushed spending cuts have become."

The Ministry is proposing to reduce its workforce by 123 roles across a range of business groups. This impacts 11% of roles at the Ministry’s National Office.

"The Government has made law and order a top priority, promising more police, expanding prisons, bringing back the Three Strikes law and demanding longer jail sentences.

"That means more people who break the law will have to be processed by the justice system. On top of that, other New Zealanders have various reasons to connect with the justice system including the whānau of those ending up in court. We should be investing more, not less in Justice.

"Instead, as we have seen with many other restructures, the Government is blind to how its rushed spending cuts, could end up undermining the very policies it wants to trumpet.

"The changes as proposed will slow decision-making, and bottlenecks will grow as teams consolidate and managers become responsible for more and more.

"Worse, the Government risks a less effective justice system as it cuts advisors who provide information and support to those dispensing justice on the frontline and who provide the expertise to deliver the improvements to the system that are so desperately needed.

"Once again, we see the fiction of no impacts on the frontline. How can this lead to the better public services the Government promises? And all to fund tax cuts. It makes no sense," said Duane Leo.

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Government cuts to public services are forcing Stats NZ to reduce staff numbers further - putting at risk the agency’s ability to deliver vital data businesses and communities need.

Stats NZ today told staff that is proposing to disestablish 45 roles and create 31.5 new roles for a net reduction of 13.5 roles, said Kerry Davies Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary.

Today’s proposal follows a restructure in December which saw 29 jobs go, and in May Stats NZ called for voluntary redundancies, which will see more than 80 people leave the organisation, Davies said.

"This means Stats NZ is at risk of losing more than 110 staff in the six months since December. This is a significant cut for the agency that provides the essential information the country needs to plan for its future requirements in areas like health care and education, and to support businesses.

"Today’s announcement on top of the job losses already in train reinforces our concerns that the constant rounds of cuts required by the Government will impact the ability of Stats NZ to deliver the quality collection and analysis of data that businesses and communities depend on," Davies said.

Roles affected by the change proposal announced include design and collection analysts, data technicians and quality assurance specialists.

"Stats NZ data is vital to supporting businesses. With its narrow focus on cost cutting, the Government is putting at risk New Zealand’s ability to build and grow a modern economy by reducing Stats NZ’s ability to gather and analyse the data businesses need to make smarter decisions.

"We are also worried the proposed changes will pile greater workloads on fewer staff," Davies says.

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The PSA is calling for an urgent meeting with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey to discuss workforce issues identified in a major five-year mental health and addiction monitoring report released today.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s report - Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun - identified several serious workforce trends between July 2018 and June 2023.

"People working in specialist mental health services and addiction services face extraordinary strain with serious implications for themselves, their communities, and the tāngata whaiora they serve," says Kerry Davies National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Fewer people can access the specialist services they need because there is such significant pressure on the workforce, with a high level of vacancies as well as the increasing complexity of patient need.

"We strongly support the Commission’s lead recommendation that Te Whatu Ora develop a workforce plan specifically for mental health and addictions workforces, and a distinct action plan to meet the needs of whānau Māori," Davies says.

"A meeting with the Minister would be an important part of ensuring the voices of the workers who have first-hand experience of the issues are heard.

"Mental health nurses, drug and alcohol clinicians, allied health workers, support workers, assistants, and people across the system desperately want to be part of the solution. They deserve to be heard by the Minister."

Davies says the PSA is deeply concerned that vacancy rates across adult specialist services were shown to more than double in four years from 5.5% in 2018 to 11.1% in 2022.

"Many of those pushed out of this field by lack of support and challenging working conditions are experienced people with years under their belt. Where they can be replaced, it is by people newer to the workforce still learning the ropes," says Davies.

"What’s in this report is of no surprise to our members - whether they’re an Earlier Mental Health Response Nurse providing care over the phone to an increased number of people with complex need, or a crisis worker trying to keep services in Te Tai Tokerau operating."

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Notes:

The PSA represents thousands of members working in mental health, across specialist services, addictions services, in-community and iwi-based organisations, emergency departments. Their roles include Alcohol and Other Drug counsellors, mental health support workers, crisis workers, mental health nurses, health improvement practitioners and health coaches through the Access and Choice programme.

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The union representing thousands of largely part-time workers who provide care for vulnerable people in our community is urging the Government to retain the current sick leave provisions.

The Government today launched a review of the Holidays Act and is considering pro-rating sick leave entitlements ‘to better reflect how much an employee works’.

"This is just unfair and will penalise thousands of women, many of whom work part-time caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community," said Kerry Davies, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"It shouldn’t matter if you are part-time or full-time - sickness doesn’t discriminate."

Home support worker Eleanor Keepa works around 20 hours a week in Auckland. She opposes any change to sick leave, which was doubled to 10 days by the last government.

"My sick leave could just go up and down and I could end up going to work sick as I couldn’t afford not to work. They tell us not to go to work sick but when you are on a low income you can’t afford to take leave. Taking annual leave when you are sick would be unfair - we all need holidays."

The PSA said the Government is once again bowing to pressure from business and moving at pace to solve a problem that just doesn’t exist.

"A minimum of 10 days sick leave made good sense for businesses and employers - nobody should be forced to go to work sick, particularly in residential facilities and hospitality," said Kerry Davies. "With COVID still amongst us, why rush a change like this?

"It appears the Government is intent on limited fast track consultation that currently excludes any mention of consultation with unions. That is not consultation.

"We will be advocating strongly to make sure workers who are sick can rest and get well and protect vulnerable clients."

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Workforce set to fall 30% by 2025/26

Vital work combatting climate change, cleaning up rivers and safeguarding our biodiversity will be jeopardised as the Ministry for the Environment looks set to nearly halve its workforce.

Government spending cuts are forcing the Ministry to propose reducing its full-time workforce by 303 roles. This includes voluntary redundancies made to date and ending of fixed term roles. On top of that there are some 200 vacant roles that are not being filled.

The cuts would reduce the Ministry’s workforce by 30%, with the full-time workforce set to fall from 993 to 690 by 2025/26.

"In the face of climate change impacting communities, our freshwaters being degraded, and our unique biodiversity under threat like never before, the Government is gutting the very agency on the frontline tackling these challenges," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"New Zealand’s precious environment is core to who we are as a nation and how we are seen on the world stage. And it supports our economic prosperity - it’s not something any government should play fast and loose with, but that is precisely what this government is doing."

"It’s turning a blind eye to our environmental challenges and again ignoring the evidence of its own experts so it can fund tax cuts. The Ministry advised its new Minister that the environment was ‘under significant pressure’ and that effort was needed ‘if the prosperity and wellbeing of New Zealanders is to be maintained’."

Last week’s Budget slashed the Ministry’s funding by $316 million, impacting programmes across climate change, freshwater protection, waste minimisation, biodiversity, environmental reporting, funding for the Climate Change Commission and support for groups taking legal action on environmental issues.

"The very people charged with monitoring environment standards and analysing data are also under threat in this proposal," said Duane Leo. "The Government promised evidence-based policy, but clearly does not value the gathering of evidence to help us better safeguard the environment.

"This proposal lays bare the Government’s misplaced priorities - putting tax cuts ahead of the environment, again showing how poorly it’s grappling with the serious and complex challenges we face.

"It makes no sense, and we will be advocating strongly to the Ministry on behalf of our impacted members to think again."

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