Latest news with #PublicServiceAssociationTePūkenga
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
PSA Decries Closure Of Specialist Mental Health Facility Segar House
The PSA strongly objects to the decision released today to close Rauaroha - Segar House, a specialised mental health facility based in Auckland for some of New Zealand's most complex patients. "Despite the critical life-saving work done at Segar House, Health New Zealand has today announced its decision to shut this unique, much-needed service," Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says. "This is terrible news for staff, those who rely on the specialist support offered at Segar House and their loved ones. "We're calling on Health New Zealand and the government to reverse this decision and commit to properly funding Segar House. New Zealanders want - and deserve - public mental healthcare that serves everyone, even and especially those with complex needs." Segar House is a wrap-around service for mental health clients that incorporates several different kinds of therapies. Its emphasis on group work and positive social interaction is designed to help their patients re-integrate smoothly into normal life. "The team working at Segar House are devastated, they know this decision will have tragic consequences," Fitzsimons says. "Segar House has supported patients with highly complex health histories, with more than one diagnosed issue, as well as horrific early trauma well for many years. They can only come to Segar House when they've already exhausted all other options - it's the last option for these mental health patients. Te Whatu Ora first proposed closing Segar House in April this year, saying the facility was under-utilised. In response, staff criticised Te Whatu Ora's referral rules as overly restrictive. After pressure from the clinical team last year, Segar House trialled working with Primary Care Liaison teams to drop the barrier for admission and had good results with an increase in clients getting access to their intensive treatment. The PSA is also seeking legal advice following more recent revelations that Te Whatu Ora considered not renewing the Segar House lease last year, months before the closure proposal was tabled. Nearly 3000 people have signed a . 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
02-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
PSA Welcomes Settlement Of Te Roopu Taurima Industrial Dispute
PSA members at disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima have voted to ratify a new Collective Agreement. The settlement follows an 8-month dispute. The employer banned Kaitaataki and Poutaaki (residential whare leaders) from working additional hours before Christmas and threatened a six-week suspension in response to low level strike action. "These workers stuck together through what was a long and difficult industrial dispute and proudly emerged stronger," says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzismons. "The new agreement doesn't include 90-day trials which was a key driver of the dispute. "Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the members of Parliament and representatives of the disability community who stood with workers in this challenging moment. "Kaitaataki and Poutaaki are pleased to be able to return to focusing on their important work supporting taangata and their whānau." The legal action against the lockout is still to be heard by the Employment Relations Authority. Other media releases:
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Another Day, Another Attack On Workers' Rights - Employers Can Dock Pay Of Workers Who Take Partial Strike Action
The Government's anti-worker agenda has stepped up with the passing into law last night the right for employers to dock the pay of workers who take low level strike action. The Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill allows employers to deduct 10% of a worker's wage for partial strike action such as not performing a task. "It's clear what the agenda is here, this Government wants to give employers even more tools and power to keep wages down and profits high," said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. "The new law is all about weakening the position of workers when involved in collective bargaining that becomes difficult to settle. "There are already only a small range of tools available to workers when negotiations fail. "Every time the Government takes away one of those tools, or puts a price on using them, the power imbalance gets worse, and workers pay the price. "The vast majority of collective agreements are settled without industrial action as employers and working people agree on pay and conditions but when that agreement is difficult to find, there are tools that both sides can use help to find agreement. This includes mediation or facilitation ordered by the Employment Relations Authority. "If that fails, low level strike action, agreed by union members through a ballot, is a tool workers can use to make their concerns loud and clear to employers. "If the Government keeps raiding the toolkit as they are here, they actually risk opening the door to escalating strike action and longer stoppages when the only tool left is a sledgehammer. "This is another win for employers, the latest in a long series of extreme anti-worker policies - cancelling pay equity rules, axing of fair pay agreements, the 90 day fire at will law, tightening personal grievance rules, low minimum wage increases and the prospect of cutting sick pay for part-time workers now on the radar. "This government has no shame in pursuing an agenda that is blatantly all about giving more power to employers and beating down on workers - the PSA will continue to resist strongly."
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Betrayal Of Women Over Pay Equity Laid Bare In Budget Poll - Time To Reverse Decision
A Budget poll lays bare how deeply unpopular the Government's decision to scrap pay equity rules under urgency has become. The Post/Freshwater Strategy Poll today shows many New Zealanders oppose the Government axing pay equity claims and making it harder to push for new claims - nearly four out of ten opposed the decision and just over four out of ten said the move damaged their confidence in the Government's commitment to gender equality. "The Government decided to scrap pay equity for women to pay for tax cuts for business in this year's budget - New Zealanders are seeing that plain and simple and they don't like it," said Fleur Fitzsimons National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. "This was wage theft and no amount of spin by the Government has convinced many New Zealanders who see the move done under urgency for what is - a betrayal that impacts wives, mothers, daughters and their families. "It was morally wrong to cancel women's claims for pay equity without telling New Zealanders during the election or even in government, and without a democratic select committee process, but it's not too late for the Government to do the right thing by women. "This outrageous decision will keep damaging the Government - the PSA calls on the Government to settle the 33 claims it scrapped and restore the pay equity process. "That will help over 150,000 women get the wage increase they need and deserve and many New Zealanders clearly agree. "Pay equity is also critical to help many deal with the cost of living which still worries New Zealanders. The poll shows a majority don't think the Budget will help reduce pressures on the household budget from rising prices. "What's more nearly two thirds worry the Government's spending cuts will damage the public services they rely on. This is what the PSA warned all along. "The poll should be a wake-up call. New Zealanders are clearly telling the Government it is taking the country in the wrong direction, and is failing women and households. Restoring pay equity and public services would be a start." Notes 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
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Budget 2025: Nervous Wait For Thousands Of Public Service Workers
Press Release – PSA Cost to New Zealand women of pay equity betrayal to become clear Tomorrow's Budget will lift the lid on how much further public services will be cut and expose the cost to underpaid women from the dismantling of the pay equity process. 'Public services including our cash strapped health system cannot afford to face further cuts and job losses,' said Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons. 'More than 150,000 women have been denied the pay rise they deserve from this disappointing decision to gut our pay equity laws with no prior notice before the election or even a Select Committee process so that New Zealand women could have their say. Tomorrow's Budget will make the scale of the cost to women clear. 'We sadly predict Government will be starving many public service agencies and our health system of funds, just as they did last year, and that means further damage to the services New Zealanders rely on. 'And we will see how the 'billions of dollars' set aside to fund pay equity settlements for underpaid women, will be freed up to fund the Government's tax cuts for landlords and make the Budget numbers add up. 'This will be a mean and nasty Budget, built on taking money from care and support workers and others who had been expecting pay equity settlements before the goal posts were shifted, existing claims scrapped, all under urgency, and without a chance for their voice to be heard. 'We call on the Government to reverse all cuts to public services, fund our health system properly and put changes to pay equity laws through a proper select committee process. 'In health, the effective hiring freeze for clinical roles is putting patient care at risk, leaving health workers over worked, stressed and facing increasing risk from angry patients poorly served by the system. 'Every day we see the price New Zealanders and communities are paying for the Government's short-sighted and rushed cuts to spending. 'Just look at last week's damning report by the Auditor-General into Oranga Tamariki. Savings demanded by the Government meant the agency cut funding to hundreds of community service provider contracts, with little notice, without regard to the harm inflicted on the vulnerable children they support. 'We have a meth crisis in this country – the Government slashed resources for border protection, which has only made that problem far worse. 'New Zealanders can't afford any further cuts to public services. Too much damage has already been done.'
