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PSA, Health NZ settlement saves 200 roles

PSA, Health NZ settlement saves 200 roles

The Public Service Association (PSA) says a settlement with Health New Zealand (HNZ) over the agency's proposed restructure of its Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams has saved around 200 roles from being cut.
HNZ said it was pleased with the settlement and said final decisions on the change processes would be issued in the coming weeks.
The union took HNZ to the Employment Relations Authority in February, arguing that its proposed restructures had breached the Code of Good Faith for public health, the Employment Relations Act and Te Mauri o Rongo - NZ Health Charter.
PSA's national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said she was pleased the union's legal action had prompted the reversal of some damaging cuts.
"This is ultimately all about patient care. Both teams play critical roles in ensuring the health system delivers for patients and communities and supports clinicians to do their job, so it was important changes were made.
"But it shouldn't have taken legal action for Health NZ Te Whatu Ora to listen to what health workers were telling it about the risks to patient care and community health," she said.
Fitzsimons said 175 roles had been added back to the Data and Digital team, who were responsible for looking after the nation-wide IT systems and ensuring clinicians could access patient records 24/7.
In Pacific Health, she said HNZ had agreed to a smaller reduction of 22 roles, compared to the 50 it originally proposed.
"This is not ideal, but the unions feedback was taken on board, including retaining regional partnerships and protecting some crucial administration roles.
"In addition, some workers, previously facing redundancy, will be redeployed elsewhere in the health system so they can carry on their important work," Fitzsimons said.
HNZ said it was pleased it had reached an agreement with PSA on these two change proposals, and the union had agreed to halt legal proceedings for the Data and Digital and Pacific change processes.
"Health NZ has heard the views and concerns expressed by staff and has committed to enabling as many staff as possible to be retained or redeployed into roles in these teams and elsewhere in the organisation," its interim chief human resources officer Fiona McCarthy said.
However, HNZ said it was unable to confirm the number of roles saved as decision documents were still being finalised.
Meanwhile, HNZ was still being challenged at the ERA for its proposed restructure of its procurement and supply chain business unit, and its systems improvement and innovation team.
Fitzsimons said they were seeking legal advice on whether to also challenge HNZ's restructure of four other teams - communications and engagement, finance, audit assurance and risk, and people and culture.

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Press Release – PSA The National GeoHazard Monitoring Centre, operated by GNS Science, provides round the clock monitoring of potential tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides, and was set up after the Kaikoura Earthquake in 2016. The centre providing 24/7 monitoring of geohazards will have to close at times as Government cuts force the centre workforce to be cut to the bone. The National GeoHazard Monitoring Centre, operated by GNS Science, provides round the clock monitoring of potential tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides, and was set up after the Kaikoura Earthquake in 2016. Last year GNS Science announced plans to cut a quarter of the 20 strong team of Geohazard Analysts by attrition following funding cuts. Yesterday, with 18 of the team left, it called for voluntary redundancies and indicated that forced redundancies could follow if sufficient voluntary redundancies are not agreed. 'Cutting the team to the bone means there is a high chance the centre will close at times when a team member falls sick or is unavailable for whatever reason – how is this keeping New Zealanders safe?' said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. Analysts work in teams of four, that is falling to three, but there must be at least two on each monitoring shift raising the risk of the centre closing due to staff absences. 'The Government needs to explain to New Zealanders why it views that this service is not as important as it was two years ago, before its funding cuts. 'Geohazard Analysts play a critical role in reviewing earthquake measurements to determine things like the magnitude and location of earthquakes and provide science advice to our emergency management services. 'The Government's decisions mean that this critical information may not be available to emergency management in times of need when lives are at risk. This is reckless for a country so vulnerable to geohazard risks like earthquakes and eruptions. 'This government does not value the role of science as we have seen with more than 400 jobs cuts throughout the sector, and a restructure announced this year with no new funding. 'The undermining of the National GeoHazard Monitoring Centre is yet another sad example of the Government's short-sighted cuts that we have seen across the public sector with little regard to the impacts on New Zealanders.' Background In September last year GNS Science announced plans to axe 59 roles, 10% of its workforce following Government funding cuts. The cuts shocked the international science community – 85 scientists from seven countries wrote an open letter to the Government stating that the cuts risk 'compromising essential geoscientific expertise and partnerships needed to address geohazards risks, which is critical for a country whose economy and community safety is so vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change'. 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.

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