Government And Department Must Act To Protect Social Workers, Public Servants

The union representing social workers, the Public Service Association is today calling on the Department of Child, Youth and Family and the government to urgently shut down internet sites attacking social workers.

“Child, Youth and Family must ensure a safe working environment for its staff by immediately shutting down web-sites that identify and attack individual social workers,” said PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“The government must act to ensure that the internet is not abused to attack public servants who are carrying out government policy in the public interest.”

“This issue is not just about social workers but also about how we ensure that public servants can safely carry out their work without fear of personal, public retribution for doing their job.”

“It is cowardly and vindictive that disgruntled clients of CYF have chosen to publicly attack individual social workers instead of using the large number of avenues available to resolve concerns with treatment by Child, Youth and Family.”

“Problems with the actions of social workers should be dealt with through the Ministry of Social Development, the Children’s Commissioner, the ombudsman, a Member of Parliament or through the court system, not by anonymously attacking those whose job it is to care for our vulnerable young people.”

“This is a classic case of shooting the messenger. If CYF clients have a problem with the way they are treated, they must use the many processes available to them to resolve it.”

The PSA is New Zealand’s largest union representing over 55,000 members in central and local government, health and in community services. The PSA represents over 2000 members at Child, Youth and Family.

ENDS

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