The PSA is calling on all MPs to sign a pledge promising
to oppose a law change that will slash the pay and leave
entitlements of tens of thousands of working people being
debated in Parliament today.
The first reading of the
Employment Leave bill, which seeks to replace the Holidays
Act, is today.
Under the bill employees who regularly
work overtime or pick up extra hours will have less leave
than they do under the current law. Any work outside of
‘contracted hours’ will not accrue sick or annual
leave.
“We are asking all MPs from each party in
Parliament to sign a pledge that they will not support any
changes that will leave workers worse off,” said Fleur
Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Most MPs
from across the political spectrum like to think they come
to Wellington to make the lives of New Zealanders better,
not worse, so we are hopeful our pledge will get wide
support.”
“Anybody who works irregular hours or gets
irregular pay will suffer if these changes are passed. No MP
should support these changes, and this pledge is a chance
for them, as individual decision-makers representing
communities all over New Zealand, to show the public whether
they stand for working people.”
The PSA represents
many of the people who would be worse off, including those
working in hospitals, those caring for mental health
patients, corrections officers, staff keeping our borders
secure, care and support workers looking after our most
vulnerable, and library workers running the beating hearts
of our communities.
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“These people all undertake vital
work supporting communities up and down New Zealand and
keeping us safe. How is cutting leave entitlements fair in a
cost-of-living crisis when household budgets are under more
pressure than ever?” said Fitzsimons.
“Part time
workers are particularly badly affected, many of whom are
women. This is the latest war on women from a Minister and
Government that cancelled pay equity settlements in the dead
of night with no prior notice.”
The bill will cut the
amount many workers are paid while on leave. Leave pay
won’t account for commissions, bonuses, or occasional
allowances, and if you take leave for a shift where you’d
paid more than one rate, you’ll get the lowest rate for
the entire period of leave.
The Government is also
proposing cutting leave for people who’ve been on ACC
compensation, and no longer providing a full day in lieu for
people working shorter shifts on public
holidays.
“This so-called attempt to simplify leave
entitlements is simply giving a leg up to exploitation –
employers will take more from workers while giving less in
return,” said Fitzsimons. “This is just more from a
government prioritising the profits of its business mates
over the pay of workers.
“Let’s not forget that on
top of cancelling pay equity, workers are suffering after
the Government has suppressed minimum wage rises, stripped
away their job security, and is also trying to undermine
their health and safety.
“Working people deserve
holidays, and they deserve to be paid properly for them. The
PSA will campaign against this attack on leave entitlements
and make sure everyone knows how this bill would leave so
many people worse off.
“We are also reaching out to
New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters, who has
repeatedly claimed to support the interests of working
people. He had a chance to block the Fire at Will Bill and
didn’t help working people then. We hope now he can work
constructively with unions to stop this latest anti-worker
bill.”
Note:
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.
