Civilian Defence workers are being penalised by the Government for daring to ask for more than a 0% pay rise by legislation passed by Parliament today, the PSA says.
The Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill makes it easier for the Minister of Defence to order military personnel to do the work of New Zealand Defence Force civilians workers taking strike action.
In November 2024, Defence Minister Judith Collins took the unusual step of instructing the armed forces to use military staff to do the work of civilian staff who were to strike in response to a 0% pay offer.
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the new law makes it too easy for the Government to use armed force staff to undercut legal, justified strikes.
"The new law severely loosens democratic Parliamentary oversight of what should be extraordinary powers to have the military intervene in the legitimate actions of New Zealand workers.
"The problem the Government is trying to fix is entirely of its own making. It made an insulting and dismissive pay offer of 0% to civilian Defence workers because it completely undervalued the work they did.
"It's only when the civilian staff went on strike that the Minister woke up and realised how critical they were to New Zealand's defence and security.
"Rather than this disturbing law change the Minister should focus on ensuring the value of the civilian Defence workers is reflected in pay offers that are made to them," Fitzsimons says.
Previous statements
24 Feb 2025 Stop Defence civilian job cuts if the Govt is serious about increasing spending
3 Dec 2024 NZDF poised to axe more civilian roles as it faces a $360mblowout in costs
