Govt workers stop traffic
‘‘We should all be receiving what we work so hard for. We should be able to live.’’
An IRD worker
A section of Hamilton’s main street ground to a halt as some government workers protested against their pay conditions.
About 150 employees from Inland Revenue (IRD) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) took part in a protest march down Hamilton’s Victoria St yesterday afternoon.
The action comes after the Government announcement last month that around 2000 of the lowest-earning public servants would be paid the 2018 living wage, $20.55 an hour.
The one-off pay increase will cost an estimated $7.23 million from September 1.
After this, the rate will be the subject of bargaining between employers and unions.
But union members said the increase failed to address pay progression systems.
The protesters, some bussed in from IRD’s Te Rapa branch, made their way from Bryce St to Garden Place at 1.30pm.
Under a police escort, they walked down Victoria carrying placards and balloons and chanting as they went, receiving plenty of toots of support from passing motorists.
IRD customer compliance worker Shaneel Singh is hoping the protest – part of nationwide action – sent a strong message.
‘‘Today is about getting a fair increase. We are looking at about 2 per cent across the board, mainly just to support the call centre. They get paid quite low. I don’t think it’s fair – they know the system inside out and they should be paid reasonably.
‘‘We’ve got to show our support for everyone,’’ Singh said.
Another IRD worker who didn’t want to be named said she wanted a fair day’s pay for all.
‘‘We should all be receiving what we work so hard for. We should be able to live. We haven’t had a pay increase across the board for a long time based on living costs and we believe it’s time.
‘‘Each time we change our systems, we seem to go down.’’
She hopes a second protest planned for July 23 won’t be required.
PSA assistant national secretary Warwick Jones is glad its members took action.
‘‘We’ve had a good response around the country and a good response here in Hamilton . . .
‘‘The PSA is always ready to negotiate, so we would call on the employers from IRD and MBIE to get back around the table and sort out fair pay for their staff,’’ Jones said.