NZ workplace relations updates for April 2024
Read on for a summary of ER events.
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A tidal wave of redundancies and job cuts swamps New Zealand. In summary
- 134 roles in the Suicide Prevention office and other specialist roles https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/closing-suicide-prevention-office-among-134-job-losses-proposed-at-health/
- Ministry for the Environment are calling for voluntary Redundacies https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/now-tax-cuts-put-ahead-of-climate-jobs-to-go-at-environment-ministry/
- The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have proposed reducing their team by 30 roles.
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/government-cuts-reduce-staff-working-on-mbies-frontline-information-channels/ - Wellington Workforce is suffering from public Service Job Cuts – Whereas Auckland is busy
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/wellington-workforce-reeling-from-public-service-job-cuts.html - 250 Roles at Newshub go
https://www.odt.co.nz/business/newshub-presenters-cling-hope-rescue - The Department of Internal Affairs legal team will see 18 roles to go
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/government-spending-cuts-force-dia-to-contract-out-critical-legal-work/ - Government Department of Conservation has proposed to cut 130 jobs.
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/govt-forces-doc-to-shed-130-jobs-despite-fragile-state-of-natural-environment/ - Around 1000 jobs are cut in Ministry Of education and Oranga Tamariki
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/oranga-tamariki-ministry-of-education-cuts-unions-organisations-furious-as-over-1000-jobs-go-in-one-day.html
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/17/over-550-roles-go-at-education-ministry-public-service-job-losses-mount/ - 79 roles in Customs NZ, and another 41 Roles in the Department of Internal Affairs gone
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/more-frontline-cuts-as-government-goes-soft-on-organised-crime/
- 200 roles cut at Ministry of Social Development
https://www.psa.org.nz/our-voice/ministry-of-social-development-sheds-200-workers-more-cuts-to-come/
FA – approximately 4500 jobs have been culled in April. The pace of this is likely to slow in May. However, as the recession bites and business closures start mounting in the private sector we are is likely to see redundancies happening in retail and hospitality sectors
1 Apr
Bay of Plenty Pathlab clinics closed today as workers strike for 24 hours
Pathlab workers are on strike due to what employees claim as stagnate wages. Pathlab staff members want the minimum/starting wages to start at living wage of $26, staff also look to their counterparts in the public health system and see there is a big difference in wages between public health and private health workers.
Pathlab’s last agreement was a 3 year deal with a 6.2 percent increase. Additionally they offered a prorate payment in recognition of the work done during covid, and have also brought forward the final year’s increase by 6 months t help with the rising living costs.
The current offer on the table is 6% backdated to November 2023
Pathlab provides testing and other services for over 1000 patients daily in the west bay of plenty area.
2 Apr
Living wage to increase to $27.80 from September 1 this year
The New Zealand Living Wage has gone up $1.80 to $27.80 and will come into effect 1 September 2024.
4 Apr
BK Members win $200 Union Only Payments, Increased Rates
Burger king staff have accepted a 50c pay increase and two $200 union only payments.
Other fast food employers are keeping to a 2% pay increase , while the burger king members wanted and settled on more.
Other union claims
- Hours and scheduling
- Sick leave – 3 days to be available from 3 months of employment rather than 6 months
- Maintenance – safety boots to be rovided
- Parental leave payment
- Union matters- such as a streamlined process for handling information, a union noticeboard, paid union meetings.
4 Apr
Gardeners, grave diggers set to get living wage
Union members from InfraCore Rotorua Lakes Council are set to receive a wage increase which will bring them up to the current living wage amount. Discussions began last June and included a strike that took place in March.
17 Apr
Police overwhelmingly reject Government’s latest pay offer, give it one last chance
The recent offer made from the Government was rejected by Police, now negotiations are in arbitration.
The offer included, the overtime rate asked for from the union, a $1500 cash payment and a locked in pay increase in the third year.
18 Apr
Prices Are Still Rising – It’s A Cost Of Living Crisis
The New Zealand CPI has increased 4% in the past 12 months, however domestic inflation is trending down.
FA – food prices are starting to come down, however rents, transport and consumables are still on the up. Workers are doing it tough. With increasing unemployment, high interest rates plus business and consumer confidence down, the NZ winter is looking decidedly bleak
22 Apr
Junior Hospital Doctors to Strike for 24 hours in May
Junior Hospital Doctors are going on strike for their 300 colleagues who are in line for a 12% pay cut, where most other doctors will be receiving a significant pay increase of up to 25%. The group of training doctors are in specialist areas that have a shortage of Doctors – psychiatry, radiation oncology and public health.
The junior doctors who are getting a pay rise did not want to see their colleagues left behind.
FA – we still not getting this right. Training and keeping Doctors. in NZ is key.
24 Apr
‘We can’t forget those people’: Public sector job cuts not just impacting Wellington
Government job cuts are not just affecting wellington but are also affecting local government roles throughout the country.
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