The New Zealand Government appears ready to back down on its decision to freeze most Public Servants’ pay in the wake of a continuing backlash from unions.
Thousands of Public Servants and union members have voiced their opposition to the austere pay guidance which specifies there will be no increases for workers above $NZ100,000 ($A92,700) and no extra for those earning above $NZ60,000 ($A55,640) except in limited circumstances.
Three senior Ministers met a delegation of union leaders at Parliament House with head of the Council of Trade Unions, Richard Wagstaff ( pictured) saying the Government had heard “frank feedback”.
“We made it crystal clear how unhappy and angry union members are feeling in response to the policy announcement,” Mr Wagstaff said.
He suggested the Government had already accepted its position as untenable.
“There was absolute agreement that bargaining will be in good faith without pre-determined outcomes,” Mr Wagstaff said.
“It was also agreed that there is scope to discuss cost-of-living increases in negotiations, with higher increases for low-paid workers, and that there is no pay freeze.”
He said unions had been told the Government intended to accelerate pay equity and pay parity processes, positively impacting on the gender and ethnic pay imbalance.
“The Ministers also agreed that addressing wellbeing and workload issues are a priority,” Mr Wagstaff said.
“The channels of communication are open, and we agreed to have further discussions,” he said.
Wellington, 14 May 2021
