September 7th, 2011

PSA lobbying saves jobs but Government cost-cutting continues to hurt regions

Submissions from PSA members at Inland Revenue (IR) have helped save 35 jobs in regional offices, but the public sector union remains unconvinced by the Department’s decision to shift so-called ‘virtual jobs’ from regional centres to metropolitan hubs.

Earlier today IR announced that as a result of consultation 156 jobs, instead of the 191 it originally proposed, would go in total from Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Nelson and Invercargill.

“The PSA and its members made submissions to IR in which members outlined why key roles needed to remain at these centres if the Department was to serve the public effectively,” says PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“As a result of our lobbying each site now has an additional community compliance officer and an extra team leader.

“Each site also keeps key support staff which will allow compliance officers to focus on delivering services out in the community.

“While we’re happy to see 35 jobs remain in these centres we strongly disagree with the department’s decision to shift so-called virtual jobs from regional centres to metropolitan hubs.

“Despite conceding that these jobs can be done anywhere, IR is ripping badly-needed work out of the regions.

“While public service job cuts impact wherever they happen, the scarcity of work in provincial NZ makes them particularly difficult for those communities. Good jobs in the provinces bring benefits for the whole community, so local businesses feel the impact when jobs go.

“PSA members and the wider community are beginning to realise that public service cuts to provincial jobs are a direct consequence of punitive government budget cuts to departments.

“Whichever political party wins the November election we hope it’s one that invests in the public services New Zealanders want and need rather than cut them to the bone as we’ve seen over the last three years,” says PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

ENDS

© Scoop Media