New Zealand’s main Public Service union has welcomed the country’s Budget, saying it ensures the public can continue to rely on the critical services they need.
National Secretary for the Public Service Association (PSA), Kerry Davies said the Budget “hits many of the right notes in terms of continued investment in public and community services and workers, as well as taking a long-term view of the challenges against which we have to build resilience”.
“To face the challenges we have seen from the pandemic and from severe climate events, we need investment in people and services,” Ms Davies (pictured) said.
“The PSA welcomes funding to continue progress to end gender and ethnic pay gaps.”
She said there was $NZ17 million (about the same in Australian dollars) supporting equitable pay for care and support workers who looked after some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
“It’s good to see the start of funding for the extension of pay equity to community social workers it is also pleasing to see half a billion dollars allocated to reduce pay disparities between community and hospital workers,” Ms Davies said.
“Our expectation is that the Government should be reducing disparities with all community health workers.”
She said there was serious inequity between those delivering funded services in the community over those directly employed in hospitals — “and we will be seeking more information on this”.
“We also welcome the removal of the minimum wage exemption for disabled workers which has been a long-standing discrimination. We have fought hard to remove this as disabled workers deserve to be paid the same as anyone else doing the same work,” she said.
“Public Service workers are facing the same cost of living pressures as all New Zealanders so it’s also good news to see funding of $NZ2.3 billion to implement the Public Sector Pay Adjustment. This is about valuing the work people do in the Public Service across the country.”
Ms Davies said overall, Budget 2023 was a Budget for our times — “but if we are going to keep facing our challenges, this commitment to strong public and community services must continue”.
Wellington, 20 May 2023
