IRD Staff Tell Bosses – It’s Your Job To Be Fair

“IRD staff who are NUPE members have rejected a pay offer from their employer as unfair to those on low pay and say it will upset the team approach needed by the IRD,” said Martin Cooney, Organiser of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE). NUPE is one of three Unions representing IRD staff nationally.

“Team Leaders are to receive a pay rise of 8.8% from 1 April 2004 while their team members mostly receive 1.2%,” said Martin Cooney. “This reinforces a rich get richer approach to pay since 1998. Since that time, the Team Leaders have had increases of 22.1% or more. Most Officers (basic IRD workers) have received round 4.1%.”

“Over that time average rises for Kiwis on Collective Agreements have been 17.5%. (See table) We are not opposed to the rises for Team Leaders – just that they should apply to all IRD workers. Drop in team morale and slower service to the public are likely outcomes in dealing with the 2004 tax year,” said Martin Cooney.