Employment Disputes – Thousands of MBIE workers hold stop-work meetings over pay dispute – PSA

Around 2,700 workers at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) are holding stop-work meetings across the country from 9am to 10am tomorrow over the Ministry’s approach to collective bargaining.

These come with bargaining underway for over 10,000 public service workers covered by collective bargaining, including workers at MBIE, DIA, Corrections, and MSD. All are currently facing pay offers well below inflation.

“MBIE workers have overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer that doesn’t even keep pace with inflation – they feel undervalued and disrespected,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“These meetings will plan the next steps in the campaign for public servants to get a fair deal.

“The current offer includes changes to pay that mean it will take staff longer to reach higher pay bands, at the same time as the cost of living keeps rising. Public servants are being asked to accept going backwards in a cost-of-living crisis.”

The bargaining with MBIE covers immigration and visa officers, along with workers who operate New Zealand’s borders, advise on economic, business and regional investment; fund science and innovation; regulate building; manage the country’s energy system; and maintain consumer standards and market regulation. The largest group is Immigration Officers, most of whom earn around $70,000 a year.

The PSA has collected testimonials from workers underlining their frustrations. One said, “It is getting harder and harder to keep up, let alone have luxuries”. Another said, “This makes me think Australia is a better option and I may need to leave the organisation or country for a better future.”

Fleur Fitzsimons said: “MBIE workers help run New Zealand’s economy, from employment and immigration services to consumer protection and business support. They deserve to be treated with respect and not presented with a deal that takes them backwards and told to accept it.

“Department of Internal Affairs workers held a two-hour strike last week, and tension is rising at other agencies too. It all points to the same thing: workers are fed up with a government that promised to fix the cost-of-living crisis but won’t give them a fair pay rise to deal with it.”

“Today’s meetings are a first step. Members are not being balloted on strike action yet, but patience is wearing thin and MBIE needs to come back to the table with a fair offer.”

The closed union meetings will take place from 9am to 10am in Central Auckland, West Auckland, South Auckland, Wellington Central, Porirua, and Christchurch, with a remote meeting for members in Hamilton, Nelson, and Palmerston North.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.