Around 2,700 workers at the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) are holding stop-work
meetings across the country from 9am to 10am tomorrow over
the Ministry’s approach to collective
bargaining.
These come with bargaining underway for
over 10,000 public service workers covered by collective
bargaining, including workers at MBIE, DIA, Corrections, and
MSD. All are currently facing pay offers well below
inflation.
“MBIE workers have overwhelmingly rejected
a pay offer that doesn’t even keep pace with inflation –
they feel undervalued and disrespected,” said Fleur
Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“These
meetings will plan the next steps in the campaign for public
servants to get a fair deal.
“The current offer
includes changes to pay that mean it will take staff longer
to reach higher pay bands, at the same time as the cost of
living keeps rising. Public servants are being asked to
accept going backwards in a cost-of-living
crisis.”
The bargaining with MBIE covers immigration
and visa officers, along with workers who operate New
Zealand’s borders, advise on economic, business and
regional investment; fund science and innovation; regulate
building; manage the country’s energy system; and maintain
consumer standards and market regulation. The largest group
is Immigration Officers, most of whom earn around $70,000 a
year.
The PSA has collected testimonials from workers
underlining their frustrations. One said, “It is getting
harder and harder to keep up, let alone have luxuries”.
Another said, “This makes me think Australia is a better
option and I may need to leave the organisation or country
for a better future.”
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Fleur Fitzsimons said: “MBIE
workers help run New Zealand’s economy, from employment
and immigration services to consumer protection and business
support. They deserve to be treated with respect and not
presented with a deal that takes them backwards and told to
accept it.
“Department of Internal Affairs workers
held a two-hour strike last week, and tension is rising at
other agencies too. It all points to the same thing: workers
are fed up with a government that promised to fix the
cost-of-living crisis but won’t give them a fair pay rise to
deal with it.”
“Today’s meetings are a first step.
Members are not being balloted on strike action yet, but
patience is wearing thin and MBIE needs to come back to the
table with a fair offer.”
Details – stop work
meetings
The closed union meetings will take place
from 9am to 10am in Central Auckland, West Auckland, South
Auckland, Wellington Central, Porirua, and Christchurch,
with a remote meeting for members in Hamilton, Nelson, and
Palmerston North.
About PSA:
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.
