PSA MEDIA RELEASE
September 19, 2008
For Immediate Use
Helen Clark and John Key to speak at PSA National Congress

Prime Minister Helen Clark and National leader John Key will speak at the Public Service Association National Congress in Wellington next week.

Around130 PSA members, who work in the state sector and local government, are attending the congress. It’s held every two years and sets the policy direction for the PSA.

“With seven weeks to go to the election PSA members welcome the chance to hear from the leaders of our two major political parties,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“They will also get a chance to question the Prime Minister and National leader about the impact their policies will have on the public services that they provide,” says Brenda Pilott.

The PSA Congress is being held next week on Tuesday September 23 and Wednesday September 24 at the Brentwood Hotel, 16-20 Kemp Street Kilbirnie, Wellington.

Helen Clark will speak at 10.30am Tuesday September 24.
John Key will speak at 9am Wednesday September 25.

The PSA Congress will also include a panel of leaders and a deputy leader from the minor parties at 11am Wednesday September 24.

The minor party panel is:
• Russel Norman, co-leader of the Green Party
• Peter Dunne, leader of United Future
• Peter Brown, deputy leader of NZ First
• Matt Robson, deputy leader of the Progressive Party

The MPs on the panel will be speaking and answering questions from PSA members.

“The PSA members attending this congress live and work throughout the country and provide public services and infrastructure that all New Zealanders use,” says Brenda Pilott.

“They’ll be listening closely to Helen Clark, John Key and the other MPs.”

“They want to know the impact their policies will have on public services and infrastructure they provide that the whole country relies on,” says Brenda Pilott.

Among the concerns PSA members have are:
• the impact tax cuts will have on public services and public service jobs.
• the cost and risk of privatising public services and infrastructure during a global financial crisis.
• the cost and risk of borrowing to pay for infrastructure during the current crisis.
• continuing attacks on public services and denigration of public service workers as bureaucrats.
• ensuring workers maintain the right to join a union and collectively negotiate their pay and conditions.

“The workers attending the congress are committed to having strong public services that meet the needs of the public,” says Brenda Pilott.

“They want to know which parties will invest in public services to ensure they have the resources they need to meet the public’s needs.”

ENDS

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