Inland Revenue Rejects PSA Call For 'Partnership'

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-PSA

Inland Revenue Rejects PSA Call For 'Partnership'
Members meet to develop industrial response

A partnership approach to management-staff relations at Inland Revenue, promoted by the PSA and aimed at changing the problems of workplace culture and poor quality service, has been rejected by management at contract negotiations.

PSA organiser June Hoddle said the response was `both predictable and worrying' and members would respond in meetings around the country this week.

"We are about trying to improve the quality of our members' jobs and the quality of the service they provide to the New Zealand public at what is an extremely critical time for IRD staff and management.

The explicit concerns of the community, and the Government, about IRD's approach and culture have been evident in many submissions to Parliament's finance and expenditure select committee, Ms Hoddle said.

"Much that has been revealed is a cause for worry. Staff morale is at an all time low and incredibly while this is going on Cabinet has approved $46 million in redundancy pay for the loss of at least another 800 staff."

The New Zealand public is still unaware of the impact of these job losses and the resulting office closures and reliance on telephone call centres, she said.

"I am afraid with this approach things are going to get a lot worse before they get better."

The PSA's Partnership for Quality strategy is about changing the way managers and staff work and adopting a shared approach for improving jobs and the service IRD provides.

"In the first instance much could be achieved by a change in attitude from senior managers and in the IRD contract negotiating team," she said.

PSA members have already endorsed our approach and understand the importance of getting away from strict contract-based bargaining, she said.

"They understand what the problems are. They face them every day. Now members have to be told their managers cannot even consider positive change in IRD."

ENDS....

MEDIA RELEASE FROM PSA

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