PSA acting national Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says zero percent pay offers take people backwards. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
- 3000 MBIE staff begin partial strike action today in response to a zero percent pay offer after months of talks
- PSA is warning of a wave of strikes in the public sector if "offensive" pay offers continue
- Civilian Defence Force staff have been striking in response to a similar pay offer since mid-September
"Offensive" zero percent pay offers could see a wave of strike action across the public sector in coming months, the Public Service Association is warning.
Nearly 3000 union members at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will begin partial strike action today after months of negotiations failed to result in a pay increase.
The union says staff would refuse unpaid or un-essential work and would synchronise meal and rest breaks.
Zero pay offers take people backwards - PSA
PSA acting national Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said negotiations had failed to deliver a fair offer for MBIE union members since their collective agreement expired in March.
"Zero percent pay offers take people backwards. They're offensive and - if it continues - it will result in more strike action across the public sector. The government and the employers need to value the important work these public servants do on behalf of all of us."
The action was expected to run until late January and would be bolstered by the inclusion of Border Operations staff in the new year.
Fitzsimons said the union would be bargaining for improvements to collective agreements for thousands of public service workers in the coming months.
"The strike action in MBIE will be replicated across the public service if we don't see fair pay offers.
"The PSA's in bargaining with the Ministry of Justice, Oranga Tamariki and soon with the Ministry of Social Development to name a few. Thousand of workers covered by collective agreements will be standing up for the value of public services and the value of their work if we don't see fair pay offers," Fitzsimons said.
Government "obsession" with public service budget cuts devaluing workers.
Fitzsimons said the striking MBIE workers engaged in an array of services crucial to country's economy such as drafting legislation, informing the public on employment and business issues and maintaining the security of the country's borders.
"Once again, we are seeing the government devaluing workers who provide important public services to New Zealanders.
"This is just another sad symptom of the government's obsession with cutting public service budgets, regardless of the valuable work carried out," Fitzsimons said.
Since mid-September civilian Defence Force staff - confronted with a similar zero percent pay offer - had been working to rule and refusing overtime. In early November they elected to escalate action to include taking combined breaks and refusing to work off-site and at heights.
Last week Defence Minister Judith Collins told Parliament she was allowing uniformed personnel to fill the gaps left by striking civilian staff.
Uniformed staff were not permitted to strike, but would provide security guard and airfield firefighting services while their non-uniformed colleagues sought a pay rise.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
