Councils agree to pay rise for PSA members

The three councils across Te Tauihu (the top of the south) have agreed to a combined pay rise for union members.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) negotiated for the first multi-employer collective agreement in the local government sector. The agreement covers members at the Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and Marlborough District Council.

Under the agreement, collective pay rates increased between 5% and 9.2%, with the highest increases going to those in the lowest pay bands, PSA organiser Ian Hoffmann said.

The agreement also included a ‘‘member only benefit’’, and provided greater transparency about pay rates for different roles.

Hoffmann said the agreement also expanded the number of people eligible for the collective agreement at the Nelson and Tasman councils.

PSA members at the councils had adopted the motto ‘‘Ducks Fly Together’’ – a reference to the Mighty Ducks movies – to signify unity.

‘‘The status quo was not adequate, and the MECA approach really did fit the bill,’’ said Michelle Watts, delegate and library assistant/customer service officer at the Marlborough District Council.

Michael Ogden, PSA delegate and geospatial analyst at the Nelson council, said the joint approach was a ‘‘new day’’ for the sector.

‘‘It’s been so exciting to watch our members advocating alongside staff at the other councils, and we’ve seen that we’re stronger when we stand together.’’

Angela Holland, delegate and cataloguing librarian at the Tasman council, said the PSA members did not achieve everything they set out to, but the agreement was a ‘‘critically important first step’’.

Hoffmann said there was still ‘‘a lot of catch-up to do’’, and both parties would return to the negotiating table for a new agreement next year.