Media Release 1 May

Partnership for Quality – the way to better jobs and better public services

THE Government’s formal endorsement of the PSA’s Partnership for Quality approach is simply the beginning of significant change to the way things are done – and delivered – in the public service, PSA secretary Richard Wagstaff said today.
State Services Minister, Trevor Mallard, today signed the Government’s formal agreement to embrace and develop the PSA’s Partnership for Quality approach at the union’s national delegates’ congress in Wellington.
Mr Wagstaff said it was ‘of great significance that the Helen Clark Government has endorsed our approach and can see the benefits of it and the shared goals we have.
‘PFQ is about progressive, relevant unionism. It says – explicitly – that PSA members are stakeholders in their business and they have clear rights and a say in deciding on how they do their work.
‘This is all about ownership of the work our members do. It is about investment, training and service delivery. It is about better jobs and a better public service and it is something we have been organising around for some years,’ he said.
‘For PSA members it is about recognising the common interests between employees and employers and having an accepted - and encouraged - say in the way your work is organised and delivered. It’s about collectively improving the quality of that work and increasing the satisfaction and benefits of a career in the public service,’ Mr Wagstaff said.
‘A good quality public service is critical to the future of this country. For too long, and at very great cost, that very simple truth has been forgotten or ignored.’
Today’s agreement lays down the foundations for radical change in public service attitudes and style, Mr Wagstaff said.
‘It will challenge some people and the way they work and much goodwill is going to be needed for the full development of this approach,’ he said.
For any further comment or information please call:

Richard Wagstaff on 025 2778131 or the PSA media officer,
Colin Williams on (04) 917 2039 or 025 575839

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