Latest news with #PublicServiceAssociation
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Rally outside minister's meeting in Christchurch
By Joe Shaw of RNZ Protesters have rallied against the government's pay-equity legislation at a post-Budget business lunch attended by Finance Minister Nicola Willis in Christchurch. About 50 people chanted, waved banners and flags, and yelled through megaphones, as Willis entered the Addington Raceway event centre to speak to Canterbury business leaders today. Budget documents revealed the tightening of the pay-equity regime - passed under urgency in early May - would net the government $2.7 billion every year or $12.8 billion in total over the next four years. The changes mean workers now face a higher threshold to prove they are being underpaid due to sex discrimination. Thirty-three claims being negotiated will have to restart the process. Public Service Association delegate and library worker Sioniann Byrnes, who is on parental leave, said the changes were an attack on the working class. "The library assistant pay equity claim was one of the 33 that was basically stopped in it's tracks," she said. "I think what they've done is shafted a whole lot of people, who've done a lot of robust work to try and fix pay and equity that has been going on for a long time. "I think it is frankly disgusting." Byrnes hoped her four-month-old daughter, whom she was holding at the time, would not have to deal with the issue of pay equity in future. E tū delegate Keri Makiri was concerned about the effect of the legislation on partner, two taimaiti (children) and four mokopuna (grandchildren). "The changes are absolutely diabolical and rip the hearts out of lower-paid workers," he said. New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate and nurse Maree Vincent was rallying for not just the pay-equity of nurses, but also for carers and support workers. "'We're back to square one. All we are asking is to be paid the same as our male counterparts in our jobs and the same as our nurses in our hospitals." But inside, the Finance Minister told the audience the savings were significant. "The government remains committed to the concept of pay-equity and, in fact, New Zealand continues to have a legislated, workable pay-equity regime for the raising of pay-equity claims and for the settlement of those claims. "The government itself continues to have funding put aside to settle claims we anticipate will come through in the future." Willis said the pay-equity regime had departed from addressing sex-based discrimination into issues that could be dealt with in normal bargaining rounds. "Without teaching you to suck eggs, pay-equity is different from equal pay. Equal pay is that you and you, if you do the same job, should be paid the same amount. "That concept is protected in law and must always be."
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Protesters out in force for Willis visit to Christchurch
By Joe Shaw of RNZ Protesters have rallied against the government's pay-equity legislation at a post-Budget business lunch attended by Finance Minister Nicola Willis in Christchurch. About 50 people chanted, waved banners and flags, and yelled through megaphones, as Willis entered the Addington Raceway event centre to speak to Canterbury business leaders today. Budget documents revealed the tightening of the pay-equity regime - passed under urgency in early May - would net the government $2.7 billion every year or $12.8 billion in total over the next four years. The changes mean workers now face a higher threshold to prove they are being underpaid due to sex discrimination. Thirty-three claims being negotiated will have to restart the process. Public Service Association delegate and library worker Sioniann Byrnes, who is on parental leave, said the changes were an attack on the working class. "The library assistant pay equity claim was one of the 33 that was basically stopped in it's tracks," she said. "I think what they've done is shafted a whole lot of people, who've done a lot of robust work to try and fix pay and equity that has been going on for a long time. "I think it is frankly disgusting." Byrnes hoped her four-month-old daughter, whom she was holding at the time, would not have to deal with the issue of pay equity in future. E tū delegate Keri Makiri was concerned about the effect of the legislation on partner, two taimaiti (children) and four mokopuna (grandchildren). "The changes are absolutely diabolical and rip the hearts out of lower-paid workers," he said. New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate and nurse Maree Vincent was rallying for not just the pay-equity of nurses, but also for carers and support workers. "'We're back to square one. All we are asking is to be paid the same as our male counterparts in our jobs and the same as our nurses in our hospitals." But inside, the Finance Minister told the audience the savings were significant. "The government remains committed to the concept of pay-equity and, in fact, New Zealand continues to have a legislated, workable pay-equity regime for the raising of pay-equity claims and for the settlement of those claims. "The government itself continues to have funding put aside to settle claims we anticipate will come through in the future." Willis said the pay-equity regime had departed from addressing sex-based discrimination into issues that could be dealt with in normal bargaining rounds. "Without teaching you to suck eggs, pay-equity is different from equal pay. Equal pay is that you and you, if you do the same job, should be paid the same amount. "That concept is protected in law and must always be."
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Christchurch protesters confront Finance Minister Nicola Willis over pay equity
Protesters outside Addington Raceway, where Finance Minister Nicola Willis addressed business leaders. Photo: Nathan McKinnon/RNZ Protesters have rallied against the government's pay-equity legislation at a post-budget business lunch featuring Finance Minister Nicola Willis in Christchurch. About 50 people chanted, waved banners and flags, and yelled through megaphones, as Willis entered the Addington Raceway event centre to speak to Canterbury business leaders. Public Service Association delegate and library worker Sioniann Byrnes, who was on parental leave, said the changes were an attack on the working class. "The library assistant pay equity claim was one of the 33 that was basically stopped in it's tracks," she said. "I think what they've done is shafted a whole lot of people, who've done a lot of robust work to try and fix pay and equity that has been going on for a long time. Protesters make their voices heard. Photo: Nathan McKinnon/RNZ "I think it is frankly disgusting." Byrnes hoped her four-month-old daughter, whom she was holding at the time, would not have to deal with the issue of pay equity in future. E tū delegate Keri Makiri was concerned about the effect of the legislation on partner, two taimaiti (children) and four mokopuna (grandchildren). "The changes are absolutely diabolical and rip the hearts out of lower-paid workers," he said. New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate and nurse Maree Vincent was rallying for not just the pay equity of nurses, but also for carers and support workers. "'We're back to square one," she said. "All we are asking is to be paid the same as our male counterparts in our jobs and the same as our nurses in our hospitals." Budget documents revealed the tightening of the pay-equity regime - passed under urgency in early May - would net the government $2.7 billion every year or $12.8 billion in total over the next four years. The pay-equity changes meant workers would face a higher threshold to prove they were underpaid , because of sex discrimination. Finance Minister Nicola Willis addresses Christchurch business leaders. Photo: Nathan McKinnon/RNZ Inside, Willis told the audience that the savings were significant. "The government remains committed to the concept of pay equity and, in fact, New Zealand continues to have a legislated, workable pay-equity regime for the raising of pay-equity claims and for the settlement of those claims. "The government itself continues to have funding put aside to settle claims we anticipate will come through in the future." Willis said the pay-equity regime had departed from addressing sex-based discrimination into issues that could be dealt with in normal bargaining rounds. "Without teaching you to suck eggs, pay equity is different from equal pay. Equal pay is that you and you, if you do the same job, should be paid the same amount. "That concept is protected in law and must always be." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
DV Helpline staff question end to WFH in NSW after Premier's message
The NSW Department of Criminal Justice will be brought before the Industrial Relations Commission after domestic violence and helpline staff pushed back against a return to work mandate. The Public Service Association (PSA) raised a dispute with the DCJ regarding the department's expectation that call-centre staff return to the office 'principally' or 50 per cent of the time. The mandate would mean staff, including those dealing with DV victims and child protection services, would need to attend the Liverpool or regional office for at least 50 per cent of their shifts. The PSA said the policy came in response to a circular from Premier Chris Minns last year that, while not specifically calling for an end to working from home, said it should not be 'taken for granted'. 'The circular does not strictly prescribe patterns of attendance and allows for ad hoc variations for the needs of employees and organisations,' the PSA said in a statement on Friday morning. 'As per the dispute resolution process, we met with DCJ and asked for feedback as to why they would not consider you for an ad hoc exemption. They have not provided any formal response yet.' Due to a lack of response, the service workers union is now seeking 'the assistance' of the state's Industrial Relations Commission, with the first conciliation meeting held on Wednesday. The PSA said it sought to understand the 'specific operation grounds' the DCJ was using to 'deny the ad hoc exemption', with a further hearing on June 17. 'Yet there have been no operational requirements provided, other than simply the Premier's circular,' the PSA said. 'Your delegates and the PSA do not believe there is any valid operational requirement for an increase in office attendance, as the work you perform has been structured around remote working for the past four years or longer. 'You work in the same manner in the office, as you do from home, with the same processes, practices, and structures.' A meeting between the union and helpline and DV line members is slated for June 2. An end to Covid-era work-from-home arrangements and mandated return to the office has been a significant sticking point in both the private and government sectors in recent years. In his circular, Mr Minns noted the usefulness of WFH arrangements in 'attracting and retaining talented people' since 2019 but said there were 'many ways' to achieve flexible work arrangements. Mr Minns said WFH arrangements were not available to all government employees, and the starting position is that those staff 'work principally in an approved workplace in NSW'. 'Arrangements to work from home on some occasions must take into consideration the wider needs of departments, agencies, the community and stakeholders,' the August circular stated. Mr Minns' opposition to WFH caused friction during the election. The state premier told reporters during the campaign that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was dealing with different circumstances in his opposition of the Liberals' plan to end WFH for public servants. A report earlier this month found staff at NSW Treasury were in the office only about half the time, or about 2.5 days per week, increasing from an average of 1.7 days per week in July 2024.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
PSA says disability provider refusing to accept recommendation to settle pay dispute
Photo: RNZ The country's largest kaupapa Māori community disability provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust is refusing to accept an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) facilitator's recommendation to settle a collective agreement, the Public Service Association (PSA) says . Te Roopu Taurima operates residential whare in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury, and a residential mental health whare in Whangārei. PSA national secretary Kerry Davies said the union and Te Roopu Taurima spent 11 days in bargaining. Unable to reach a settlement, the PSA then applied for facilitation, which Te Roopu Taurima opposed. The ERA held a hearing and ordered the parties into facilitation which lasted four days. However, the facilitator's recommendations to settle the collective agreement for certain staff members seemed to have been ignored. "Kaitaataki and poutaataki [the leaders in disability residential homes] continue to be subject to a lockout of additional hours, despite how this can affect tangata, kaiawhina [support workers they lead] and their own whānau," Davies said. RNZ asked Te Roopu Taurima why it had yet to agree to the ERA facilitator's recommendations, if it went into facilitation in good faith, and what its plan was now to settle the dispute. Te Roopu Taurima declined to respond. Davies said the lack of a settlement was unusual and baffling. "Our members, many of whom are Māori, Pasifika, and migrant workers, have reported losses in earnings of hundreds of dollars, which as already underpaid workers, they cannot afford. "At the same time the lockout is resulting in shortages of available staff in some whare. It's a ridiculous lose-lose situation for Te Roopu Taurima, its workers and the people they care for," Davies said. Both parties in an ERA facilitation have a responsibility to seriously consider and accept the recommendations, except in extraordinary circumstances. "Te Roopu Taurima and its bargaining team, who seem determined to continue a dispute without good cause, are failing the workers and the people who rely on them for support," Davies said. ERA facilitation recommendations are not binding. The PSA said if Te Roopu Taurima continued to ignore the recommendations then bargaining and industrial action would continue.
