Thursday 27 May 2004

Ird Gags Suspended Striker

“The Inland Revenue Department’ is now gagging a union delegate who they suspended without pay last Friday from talking to the media,” said Martin Cooney, Organiser of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE).

“IRD suspended two workers taking low level action last Friday. One of the two workers has now returned to her full duties, but the Union delegate is still suspended and another worker is expected to be suspended tomorrow.”

“IRD are claiming that the worker though suspended is still covered 100% by the IRD Code of Conduct,” said Martin Cooney. “IRD claim this prevents her talking to the media. If she does talk to the media about her situation then she will be liable to disciplinary action.”

“It is hard to see how the worker is bound by the Code of Conduct if she is not being paid by IRD. Obviously she cannot discuss secret information about taxpayers but she must be able to talk about her suspension and the reasons for it,” said Martin Cooney. “A rally will also be held outside IRD in Christchurch at 12.30 again today in support of the suspended workers.”

“NUPE gave notice on 21 April then began the strike on 4 May where NUPE members began refusing to volunteer for extra duties. NUPE members are taking action over IRD forcing unwilling staff members to work outside their normal work and to protest at the inequity of the recent pay offer where team leaders get 8.8% and most team members 1.1%.,”

ENDS

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