A new poll commissioned by the PSA shows the majority of
New Zealanders do not believe the Government’s claim that
AI can be used to replace public service workers.
The
Talbot Mills poll released today shows 53% of New Zealanders
reject the Government’s plan to use AI to replace the work
of some of the 9,000 public service workers it wants to
axe.
“Sacking 9,000 workers and hoping AI fills the
gap is not a strategy – it’s a gamble with the services
New Zealanders depend on, and the public knows it,” said
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
National Secretary Duane Leo.
“AI can make public
servants more productive. We welcome that. But there is no
evidence that any country has used AI to replace public
sector workers at the scale this Government is betting
on.”
PSA launches election campaign to change the
Government
The poll is being released today as the
PSA launches its election campaign in Auckland with a clear
message to voters – the Coalition Government must go in the
face of its damaging cuts to public services, the relentless
attacks on workers’ rights, and the axing of pay
equity.
“Enough is enough – this country can’t
afford another three years of a Coalition Government that is
robbing New Zealanders of the public services they need,”
said Leo.
“We are taking this unequivocal stance to
reverse the damage that the Coalition – the most anti-worker
government in decades – has inflicted on New
Zealanders.”
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The PSA’s top five asks of an incoming
Government are:
– Fund public services including
science to meet the growing demands from an ageing
population, rising social needs, and our infrastructure and
environmental challenges, and reverse the planned cuts of
9,000 jobs and the arbitrary 1% target for the size of the
public service.
– Fund the public health system
properly so it has the health workforce to meet New
Zealanders’ needs and the investment required to cover the
rising costs of medical technology and abandon all moves to
privatisation.
– Pass legislation which settles and
fully funds the care and support pay equity claim within the
first 100 days, restore a legal framework that ensures New
Zealand women have pay equity, and commit to the settlement
of the 33 cancelled pay equity claims.
– Ensure AI is
introduced in a way that makes public service workers more
productive and is not used to simply cut roles.
–
Begin reversing anti-worker laws including planned cuts to
sick and annual leave which cut the pay of part-time workers
and others, and the personal grievance law that allows
employers to fire workers at will.
“We will campaign
hard for a new government that properly honours Te Tiriti o
Waitangi and one that commits to winding back this
government’s shameful attacks on Māori.
“New
Zealanders need a government that doesn’t choose to cut
taxes for landlords, tobacco companies and big business over
the public services New Zealanders rely on.
“It’s
time for a new Government that takes New Zealand’s
challenges seriously and invests in a public service that
can help meet them.”
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.
