In Wellington today the experiences of two small economies, and their approach to public service will come under the spotlight.

In 1987 both Ireland and New Zealand had to change. Both have, but each has taken a different route.

Union & Government representatives are today looking at the experience of each at the PSA’s conference on Partnership in the Modern Public Service.

PSA Secretary Richard Wagstaff will set a challenge to participants, “to rebuild public services, regain public respect and ensure decent working conditions for public sector workers”.

Peter Mcloone (Secretary of the PSA’s sister union in Ireland) will describe a commitment by Irish government of all political persuasion to pursue a Partnership with union, employers and the community that has lead to a decade of growth. With unemployment down from 20% to 3%, one of the strongest economic expansions in the world, and a continuing rise in real incomes the Irish see a new set of targets on the horizon. “Consistent quality service in the public sector is the right of citizens, just as decent work is the right of public servants. Innovation, flexibility and relevance are the goals and challenges of public servants worldwide. Respect and partnership between governments, unions and citizens are the only way to deliver on those goals”.

The conference works for two days on a New Zealand approach to modernising the public service, and will be addressed by both the Prime Minister and Minister of State Services.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>