Source: Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association
The PSA is criticising a new proposal handed down by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to cut security personnel at its service centres as irresponsible and even dangerous.
After reducing the number of security guards at 20 regional MSD Service Centres earlier this year, the agency has proposed to cut teams at a further 22 sites from three security guards per site to two.
One guard would be inside giving visitors access via CCTV, with the other person on duty roaming the site.
“We’re very disappointed that MSD has forged ahead with their plan to reduce security guard numbers at its sites, even as staff feed back to them that they already feel unsafe at work,” Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Public Service Association National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
“The tragedy at Ashburton looms large in workers’ minds, with many people saying that it’s just a matter of time before another major act of violence and even loss of life.
“Every worker deserves to be safe at work. No-one’s whānau should have to worry about whether their loved one is coming home.
“As well as that, everyone visiting an MSD site deserves to be safe.
“The PSA is calling on MSD to ditch this proposal and instate at least three security guards in every Service Centre in the country.”
Many staff are also in favour of re-instating security outside the Service Centre doors to help vet people before they come in, and installing polycarbonate screens between staff desks and the public area.
According to official data from MSD, security incidents have decreased this year.
However, PSA workers dispute this, saying that that violence is under-reported, increasingly normalised, and becoming more aggressive.
“Staff face regular incidents of aggression, including people jumping over their desks, spitting, throwing objects, and making bomb and gun threats.
“Changes to the benefit system under the coalition government, including the traffic light system and harsher sanctions, mean that people visiting MSD Service Centres are under extreme pressure.
“The staff who are there to help them have a huge workload, and report having to rush from client to client – even staff deployed to train others say they don’t have the resources to do their job to a high standard.
“So it’s no real surprise that staff don’t have the time to report the many incidents they’ll see each week. They also say that they feel there’s no real point to reporting violence, as nothing really changes when they do make reports, or the incidents are so common they’re not seen as an issue.”
Consultation with staff at the affected sites closes on 12 August. The PSA will be supporting workers to reject the proposal and strengthen security at all MSD Service Centres.
Previous PSA statements:
MSD plan to cut security guards risks repeating mistakes of the past
https://www.psa.org.nz/news-media/msd-plan-to-cut-security-guards-risks-repeating-mistakes-of-the-past
Notes to editors:
Affected Service Centres are located in:
Dargaville
Flaxmere
Huntly
Johnsonville
Kamo
Kāpiti
Kawakawa
Kawerau
Kerikeri
Morrinsville
Motueka
Mount Maunganui
Ōpōtiki
Paeroa
Richmond
Ruatoria
Te Awamutu
Te Puke
Tokoroa
Tūrangi
Waihi
Wairoa
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.