The PSA and MBIE will today attend Employment Relations Authority ordered mediation to try and resolve the dispute over the MBIE’s unlawful restriction on working from home, a week after ACC backed down on its own cuts to flexible work.

Earlier this year the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment introduced a new policy to align with the Government's directive restricting flexible work - but the policy violated existing collective agreement protections for "flexible by default" arrangements.

In response, the PSA filed legal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority and MBIE paused the roll out of the new policy until the Authority could determine the matter.

The Authority has now ordered the PSA and MBIE to mediation with clear expectations around what is to be discussed today.

"MBIE tried to tear up existing agreements protecting flexible work, but workers at MBIE stood firm and we look forward to resolving this today," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"Employers should be embracing working from home arrangements, not looking to restrict what modern workplaces the world over are celebrating - the international evidence is clear, flexible work is good for employers and workers.

"Last week ACC heard the voice of its own workers over a plan to restrict working from home to two days a week, down from three days and we hope MBIE hears a similar message.

"Bottom line, employers can't simply ignore collective agreements no matter what the Government directive is.

"Employees at MBIE have a right to flexible work arrangements which suit their individual circumstances unless there is a good business reason not to.

"As we showed with ACC’s backdown, the PSA will continue defending workers' rights to flexible work - we can’t go backwards if the Government is serious about building a more productive economy and supporting the participation of women in the labour market."

The PSA is also challenging the Government's broader directive through Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

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