Ministry for the Environment workers to strike today in Wellington

What: Strike action at the Ministry for the Environment
Where: Environment House, 23 Kate Sheppard Place, Thorndon, Wellington
When: 10am – 12noon, Friday 16 May

The Public Service Association (PSA) says its members working at the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) have voted to take strike action at 10am on Friday 16 May, after six months of collective bargaining failed to produce an acceptable offer from the Ministry.

Richard Wagstaff, PSA National Secretary, said “Despite our members’ best efforts in bargaining, MfE has offered only a miserly 0.5%.”

“Our 120 members at MfE are asking for fair pay, especially as the economy has started to improve.

“MfE staff already earn less than many of their public sector colleagues, and the 0.5% increase on offer would only widen that gap.

“The low pay contributes to MfE’s staff turnover rate of 25%, and this hurts the important work staff do to protect our environment.

“Our environment is the cornerstone of our economy, but the work done by MfE staff to protect it is not valued.

“This strike action is the result of ministry staff becoming increasingly frustrated with their employer’s refusal to offer decent wage movement,” said Richard Wagstaff.

Ends

© Scoop Media