The Public Service Association (PSA) is urging the Government to pull back from restricting flexible work practices in the public service, including working from home, when mediation begins today.
The PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority last December to stop the Government from restricting flexible workplace practices, which it says disproportionately impacts women who make up 62% of public service workers.
“The Government has heard the loud outrage of women over its shocking destruction of the pay equity framework – it needs to listen now and stop further attacking women in the workplace,” said National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, Fleur Fitzsimons.
“We are hoping to settle this dispute in mediation.
“Women need flexible work to help them manage caring responsibilities whānau and be more productive. It’s a win win.
“What the Government is proposing is effectively ripping up the Gender Pay Principles, which was an agreement to end discrimination based on gender and normalise flexible work practices.
“Flexible work is the backbone of employment agreements in modern workplaces and the Government must not undermine this.
“These are binding on the Government and are included in collective agreements so the Government can’t turn around and shift the goalposts.
“This is exactly what it is doing with the pay equity overhaul, upending a system that was working to lift the pay of women in female-dominated occupations.
“The Government needs to learn the lesson from last week, hear the voice of women, and come to the party and resolve this if it wants to avoid litigation before the Authority,” she said.
