Latest news with #GenderPayPrinciples
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Public Service Work From Home Policies Dispute Heading To Employment Relations Authority
Press Release – PSA Public Service Association Te Pkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers. Confidential mediation today failed to resolve the difference between the PSA and the government on public service work from home policies, and the issue is now heading to the Employment Relations Authority. Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers. 'While we're still open to settling this matter outside of the Authority, the government is digging in its heels on its arbitrary wish to force public servants, who have performed to a high standard for years now while working from home, back into the office. 'Not having working from home as the default disadvantages women, who make up 62 per cent of the public service and who disproportionately hold whanau care responsibilities. 'Working from home is good for women, good for people with chronic health conditions, and good for people with disabilities. It's good for everyone including employers and even the government too.' In 2018, the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020. 'The fact of the matter is, the government entered into the Gender Pay Principles and the Flexible Work by Default agreements. 'You can't just rip up these agreements when thousands of people rely on them to maintain their personal and whanau wellbeing. 'But then – we didn't see much care for women when the government also ripped up the Pay Equity Bill last week.' Previous media statements:
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Public Service Work From Home Policies Dispute Heading To Employment Relations Authority
Press Release – PSA Public Service Association Te Pkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers. Confidential mediation today failed to resolve the difference between the PSA and the government on public service work from home policies, and the issue is now heading to the Employment Relations Authority. Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers. 'While we're still open to settling this matter outside of the Authority, the government is digging in its heels on its arbitrary wish to force public servants, who have performed to a high standard for years now while working from home, back into the office. 'Not having working from home as the default disadvantages women, who make up 62 per cent of the public service and who disproportionately hold whanau care responsibilities. 'Working from home is good for women, good for people with chronic health conditions, and good for people with disabilities. It's good for everyone including employers and even the government too.' In 2018, the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020. 'The fact of the matter is, the government entered into the Gender Pay Principles and the Flexible Work by Default agreements. 'You can't just rip up these agreements when thousands of people rely on them to maintain their personal and whanau wellbeing. 'But then – we didn't see much care for women when the government also ripped up the Pay Equity Bill last week.' Previous media statements:
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Public Service Work From Home Policies Dispute Heading To Employment Relations Authority
Confidential mediation today failed to resolve the difference between the PSA and the government on public service work from home policies, and the issue is now heading to the Employment Relations Authority. Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers. "While we're still open to settling this matter outside of the Authority, the government is digging in its heels on its arbitrary wish to force public servants, who have performed to a high standard for years now while working from home, back into the office. "Not having working from home as the default disadvantages women, who make up 62 per cent of the public service and who disproportionately hold whanau care responsibilities. "Working from home is good for women, good for people with chronic health conditions, and good for people with disabilities. It's good for everyone including employers and even the government too." In 2018, the PSA entered in into an agreement - the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020. "The fact of the matter is, the government entered into the Gender Pay Principles and the Flexible Work by Default agreements. "But then - we didn't see much care for women when the government also ripped up the Pay Equity Bill last week." Previous media statements:
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Working From Home Dispute In Mediation Today – Will Govt Support Women On This?
Press Release – PSA The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers. The PSA is urging the Government to pull back from restricting flexible work practices in the public service, including working from home when mediation begins today. The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers. 'The Government has heard the loud outrage of women over its shocking destruction of the pay equity framework – it needs to listen now and stop further attacking women in the workplace,' said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. 'We are hoping to settle this dispute in mediation.' 'Women need flexible work to help them manage caring responsibilities whānau and be more productive. It's a win win. 'What the Government is proposing is effectively ripping up the Gender Pay Principles, which was an agreement to end discrimination based on gender and normalise flexible work practices. 'Flexible work is the backbone of employment agreements in modern workplaces and the Government must not undermine this. 'These are binding on the Government and are included in collective agreements so the Government can't turn around and shift the goalposts. 'This is exactly what it is doing with the pay equity overhaul, upending a system that was working to lift the pay of women in female-dominated occupations. 'The Government needs to learn the lesson from last week, hear the voice of women, and come to the party and resolve this if it wants to avoid litigation before the Authority.' Background In 2018 the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020. Gender Pay Principles The Gender Pay Principles guide all government work on gender pay with the aim of ending discrimination based on gender, and closing the gender pay gap. They require senior leaders to eliminate gender inequalities, require agencies to apply specific resourcing to ensure Māori women are not discriminated against and work with unions to ensure equitable practices are sustained. 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.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Working From Home Dispute In Mediation Today – Will Govt Support Women On This?
Press Release – PSA The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers. The PSA is urging the Government to pull back from restricting flexible work practices in the public service, including working from home when mediation begins today. The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers. 'The Government has heard the loud outrage of women over its shocking destruction of the pay equity framework – it needs to listen now and stop further attacking women in the workplace,' said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. 'We are hoping to settle this dispute in mediation.' 'Women need flexible work to help them manage caring responsibilities whānau and be more productive. It's a win win. 'What the Government is proposing is effectively ripping up the Gender Pay Principles, which was an agreement to end discrimination based on gender and normalise flexible work practices. 'Flexible work is the backbone of employment agreements in modern workplaces and the Government must not undermine this. 'These are binding on the Government and are included in collective agreements so the Government can't turn around and shift the goalposts. 'This is exactly what it is doing with the pay equity overhaul, upending a system that was working to lift the pay of women in female-dominated occupations. 'The Government needs to learn the lesson from last week, hear the voice of women, and come to the party and resolve this if it wants to avoid litigation before the Authority.' Background In 2018 the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972. The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020. The Gender Pay Principles guide all government work on gender pay with the aim of ending discrimination based on gender, and closing the gender pay gap. They require senior leaders to eliminate gender inequalities, require agencies to apply specific resourcing to ensure Māori women are not discriminated against and work with unions to ensure equitable practices are sustained. 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.
