3500 MSD workers ratify new pay offer before Christmas

PSA members in Service Delivery at the Ministry of Social Development have settled a new collective agreement, giving members a pay bump and a long-awaited alternative to their current Performance Development and Assessment (PDA) system.

Along with a pay increase, the new agreement has replaced the long opposed PDAs.

"We are very pleased with this result for our members," says Glenn Barclay, PSA national secretary.

"It gives our members a well-deserved pay rise, and improved working conditions."

Approximately 3000 members voted on the new collective agreement, which will see the introduction of a new Coaching and Performance Development system to replace the contentious PDAs.

"Our members have felt very strongly for a long time that PDAs don’t work," says PSA convenor Athol Ringrose.

"Replacing the current Performance Development Assessment with a new Coaching and Performance Development system shows members that their concerns are being heard by the Ministry,"

"It also allows members to be instrumental in shaping the future of their own career development within Service Delivery."

The agreement also makes progress on a range of other member concerns, including a redesign of the remuneration structure, inclusion of Nga Kaupapa and gender pay principles, and the introduction of paid discretionary leave for members experiencing family violence.

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