7 April 2009 Media Statement

Public will suffer under Nat’s pay freeze

The Government’s short-sighted approach to freezing salaries for the public sector could put frontline services in jeopardy, Labour State Services Spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

“National is already looking for 10 percent cuts in public services. Now with the pay freeze it is the New Zealand public who will suffer with likely industrial unrest and high staff turnover rates. The services that New Zealanders need are being put in jeopardy by National.

“Police officers and those in the health service frontline are in demand internationally. National is now signalling they do not value the contribution these people make to New Zealand.

“While the Government continues its PR spin about bureaucrats and the public service, the reality is a freeze in pay rates could mean that even more New Zealand trained frontline health workers, police, teachers and social workers could head offshore or into other professions.

“Its extremely important that the government does not use the recession as an excuse to downgrade frontline services and by refusing to negotiate contracts in good faith that is exactly what they will be doing.

“Its an insult to these frontline workers that they should be treated so contemptuously by a government who proposes no cuts to their own ministerial services and has more than doubled the number of people working in ministers offices earning more than $100,000 a year.

“Labour knows that unions will take into account the current economic climate when negotiating contracts. Bullying frontline workers is not an acceptable form of contract negotiation.

“New Zealanders need a strong public service delivering essential services that keep pace with the rest of the world,” Mr Robertson said.

ENDS

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