Of state sector pay freeze

permission of the Public Service Commission.

This guidance would ‘‘have’’ to be followed by most of the public sector such as core departments and district health boards, but only had to be ‘‘regarded’’ by police and other more autonomous entities.

‘‘Any pay increase over the next three years will be targeted to low-income public servants – that’s those earning less than $60,000 per year,’’ Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins said at the time, and there would be ‘‘no pay increase’’ for those earning more than $100,000. ‘‘For those in between, pay adjustments will be considered in special circumstances, but they will need to work through the Public Service Commission.’’

After a severe backlash from the unions, other political parties, and public servants themselves, top ministers have gone into damage control mode, arguing the media has misreported the issue and that the term ‘‘freeze’’ is inaccurate because workers who were on step-based contracts would still receive pay increases as their experience increased.

It was never suggested that the Government would be breaching its existing collective agreements and removing step-based progression.

Ardern said the discussions with the PSA had been constructive and ministers had sought to make sure the PSA was aware that existing agreements were not being disrupted. She said no apology had been offered and the guidance itself was not changing.