PSA Calls On MPs To Sign Pledge To Stop Cuts To Holidays And Pay For Thousands Of Workers
The PSA is calling on all MPs to sign a pledge promising to oppose a law change that will slash the pay and leave entitlements of tens of thousands of working people being debated in Parliament today.
The first reading of the Employment Leave bill, which seeks to replace the Holidays Act, is today.
Under the bill employees who regularly work overtime or pick up extra hours will have less leave than they do under the current law. Any work outside of ‘contracted hours’ will not accrue sick or annual leave.
“We are asking all MPs from each party in Parliament to sign a pledge that they will not support any changes that will leave workers worse off,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Most MPs from across the political spectrum like to think they come to Wellington to make the lives of New Zealanders better, not worse, so we are hopeful our pledge will get wide support.”
“Anybody who works irregular hours or gets irregular pay will suffer if these changes are passed. No MP should support these changes, and this pledge is a chance for them, as individual decision-makers representing communities all over New Zealand, to show the public whether they stand for working people.”
The PSA represents many of the people who would be worse off, including those working in hospitals, those caring for mental health patients, corrections officers, staff keeping our borders secure, care and support workers looking after our most vulnerable, and library workers running the beating hearts of our communities.
“These people all undertake vital work supporting communities up and down New Zealand and keeping us safe. How is cutting leave entitlements fair in a cost-of-living crisis when household budgets are under more pressure than ever?” said Fitzsimons.
“Part time workers are particularly badly affected, many of whom are women. This is the latest war on women from a Minister and Government that cancelled pay equity settlements in the dead of night with no prior notice.”
The bill will cut the amount many workers are paid while on leave. Leave pay won’t account for commissions, bonuses, or occasional allowances, and if you take leave for a shift where you’d paid more than one rate, you’ll get the lowest rate for the entire period of leave.
The Government is also proposing cutting leave for people who’ve been on ACC compensation, and no longer providing a full day in lieu for people working shorter shifts on public holidays.
“This so-called attempt to simplify leave entitlements is simply giving a leg up to exploitation – employers will take more from workers while giving less in return,” said Fitzsimons. “This is just more from a government prioritising the profits of its business mates over the pay of workers.
“Let’s not forget that on top of cancelling pay equity, workers are suffering after the Government has suppressed minimum wage rises, stripped away their job security, and is also trying to undermine their health and safety.
“Working people deserve holidays, and they deserve to be paid properly for them. The PSA will campaign against this attack on leave entitlements and make sure everyone knows how this bill would leave so many people worse off.
“We are also reaching out to New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters, who has repeatedly claimed to support the interests of working people. He had a chance to block the Fire at Will Bill and didn’t help working people then. We hope now he can work constructively with unions to stop this latest anti-worker bill.”
Note:
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.
