More than 400 scientists, technicians, and support workers at the New Zealand Institute of Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) will strike from 8am to 12pm today in opposition to proposed changes to the Institute’s staff pay structure.
In a statement, the Public Service Association (PSA) said staff were striking due to the Institute’s attempts to change its step-based pay system to entirely performance-based pay.
Workers will rally for an hour from 11am to 12pm on picket lines at PHF Science sites in Mt Albert (Auckland), Kenepuru and Wallaceville (Wellington), and Ilam (Christchurch).
“Performance pay doesn’t make for more effective workers, and it doesn’t accurately reflect performance,” said PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons.
“It can introduce unconscious bias and contribute to gender and ethnic pay gaps.
“Getting rid of performance pay in the first place was a hard-won breakthrough for these workers. They do not want to go back to a blunt instrument that doesn’t belong in public science or public services.
“The last time PHF Science had performance-based pay, its workers were some of the lowest paid in the science sector.
“Sometimes these workers were not reaching the midpoint of their pay band after 10 to 15 years of service,” she said.
Additionally, PHF Science is offering a 0% cost-of-living increase, which means three-quarters of the lowest-paid workers (earning $60-$100k) will get no guaranteed pay increase at all in the next year, said Ms Fitzsimons.
“In the middle a cost-of-living crisis, these workers are being asked to go backwards while doing essential work for the entire nation.
“This is the latest episode in the rolling disaster that is the Government’s reforms to the science sector.
“After months of uncertainty and botched changes, the Government’s new institute wants to make its pay system less equitable without even increasing wages to keep up with the cost of living. No wonder so many skilled science workers are giving up on New Zealand altogether and moving overseas.
“PHF Science must come to the table with a fair offer, and the Government must admit its science sector reforms are a failure, and fund the sector so it can pay its workers fairly.”
What: Picket line rallies for PHF Science strike
When: 11am-12pm, Tuesday 4 August
Where: 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland; 66 Ward Street, Wallaceville, Upper Hutt; 34 Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua; 27 Creyke Road, Ilam, Christchurch.
