Why public servants may take strike action
Frustrated public service workers have threatened to take strike action next month. This industrial action will be the first co-ordinated strike by public service employees for many years. It also comes amid threats of strike action from teachers and nurses, building pressure on the Labour-led Government, which has close links to the union movement.
But why are the public service employees taking strike action?
The Public Service Association (PSA) says its members at Inland Revenue (IRD) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Mbie) are fed up over protracted pay negotiations that started late last year.
PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay said members were upset over pay rates not keeping up with the cost of living.
‘‘Mbie is insistent on a performance-based system, which we know doesn’t work and actually increases pay inequities,’’ Barclay said. ‘‘Progression is slow and often unfair.’’
He said there was also growing frustration among workers at what was happening in both organisations. A major technology overhaul at IRD was ‘‘a mess’’, which was making life difficult for affected staff.
How many members want to strike?
More than 4000 public servants voted on industrial action yesterday. Barclay said the coordinated nature of the action sent an indirect message to the Government but the main target was the two government departments.
When will they strike?
Members will be taking two 2-hour strikes next month.
Who else is striking?
The nurses union has ‘‘strongly rejected’’ a district health board (DHB) pay and conditions offer of $500 million over two years and is seeking urgent mediation.
That decision was announced yesterday afternoon in Wellington by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s industrial services manager, Cee Payne.
Payne said: ‘‘The immediate staffing crisis as a result of the past decade of underfunding of DHBs has taken a heavy toll on nurses and their ability to provide safe patient care.
‘‘Nurses and midwives do not trust that their work environment or patient care will improve in the short term.’’
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s chief executive, Memo Musa, said strike action was the last resort but could still happen.
Its 29,500 NZNO members had earlier voted to strike for two days in July – dependent on results for their new collective agreement offer. The strikes were scheduled for July 5 and 12, running for 24 hours from 7am. The decision was made based on a 30-day ballot that went out to NZNO members on April 23.
In recent months, bus drivers, cinema staff and workers at fastfood chains Wendy’s and Burger King have also taken strike action over pay and conditions. The European Union’s trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, is set to touch down in the country this week to formally launch the EUNew Zealand free-trade agreement negotiations. Malmstro¨mwill give a public speech on Thursday at Parliament and will carry out two days of visits and meetings alongside Trade Minister David Parker. Malmstrom and Parker will jointly hold a ‘‘civil society outreach’’ event in Auckland on Friday.