Labour’s Pay Equity Announcement First Step But Union Campaign Will Continue
by PSA · SCOOPPublic service funding needs clarity
The Public Service Association says Labour’s commitment to care and support workers’ pay equity is the first step based on work already completed, but the union campaign for a full settlement within the first 100 days of a new government will continue.
"The initial payrise is welcome, but justice will only be done if it is followed quickly by full settlement of the care and support workers’ pay equity claim which is based on the agreed undervaluation of this work which is up to 38 percent," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
"We will not be taking the pressure off to deliver a pay equity settlement for care and support workers. These workers cannot be expected to keep waiting for pay equity."
"Care and support workers need a Labour-led Government to ensure that their work is properly valued - this is their only hope after National, NZ First and Act cancelled their claim and gutted the Equal Pay Act 1972.
"We still want to see a full pay equity settlement implemented for these 65,000 workers in the first 100 days and we will make ourselves available to take part in urgent work to make sure this happens.
"We anticipate a settlement could be reached through a one-day meeting if the funding is available and the political will is clear."
Pay equity makes economic and fiscal sense. PSA analysis based on Treasury’s own model shows reinstating it would grow the economy by $13.5 billion over four years, create around 13,000 jobs, and lift an estimated 11,000 children out of poverty (see below).
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Voters also support a settlement of all claims. A Talbot Mills poll commissioned by the PSA shows people would rather push out the surplus target than keep making women wait (see below).
"It is time to right the wrongs committed by this government," said Fitzsimons. "Pay equity is an expensive election commitment because working women in New Zealand have been undervalued and underpaid for too long. They can’t afford to wait any longer."
Comment on public service expenditure
Labour also announced it would reverse half of the additional cuts planned for the next Budget and fully reverse the cuts planned for future Budgets.
This is in addition to the party’s commitment to implement the public good test for all restructures put forward at the PSA Congress in September.
"We call on Labour to further clarify that cuts that have not already taken effect at the start of a Labour-led government will not go ahead," said Duane Leo, National Secretary of the New Zealand Public Service Association.
"Labour will need to spend more on rebuilding the public service which will take significant investment. The cuts have taken their toll on individuals but also on the capacity of the public service to deliver public services.
"A strong New Zealand needs a strong public service, all cuts should be reversed," said Leo.
Statement re undervaluation of care and support workers
29 September Opening of books must force Opposition parties to commit to pay equity
The PSA and the NZ Nurses Organisation reveal publicly the precise historic undervaluation of care and support workers showing they have been underpaid by between 24 percent and 38 percent.
Pay equity poll
26 September Pay equity poll: voters say make the fiscals wait, not women!
PSA analysis of economic and fiscal upside to restoring pay equity
9 September Restoring pay equity would boost income of 91,000 families by $300/week - PSA analysis
23 August Govt’s axing of pay equity cost jobs & GDP growth - PSA analysis
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