C.S.U. chiefs angry over Govt stand

Press, 17 August 1983, Page 4

C.S.U. chiefs angry over Govt stand

PA Wellington Officials of the Combined State Unions are angry over what they say is a Government refusal to negotiate impending changes to State servants’ pay rates and conditions of work. Mr Ron Burgess, chairman of the C.S.U. said after a meeting with the Minister of State Services, Mr Thomson, that he was “very angry” at the way the C.S.U.’s claim for consultation and negotiation had been rejected. “We were simply told by the Minister that there would be no negotiation and no consultation,” he said.

“The Minister said we could take our views to a Parliamentary select committee, but we are not prepared to accept that the committee is the proper place for consultation over the changes.

“You cannot negotiate with the committee. You can only put up a case.” Mr Burgess said that the Government’s attitude in the matter could be contrasted with the tripartite discussions between the Federation of Labour, the Government, and employers over long-term wage fixing.

The Government intends to amend the State Services Conditions of Employment Act, 1977, and Mr Thomson said last evening that there had been nine months of “communication” with the C.S.U. over the proposed changes. “There has been nine months in which they had opportunities to put up their alternatives to the bill,” he said.

“As we have not reached an agreement the appropriate place for them to put their case is the select committee, rather than the Gov-

ernment and the C.S.U. confronting each other.”

The Government has distributed a glossy pamphlet to all State servants setting out its attitude to the proposed changes. Mr Burgess said that he was amazed that taxpayers’ money was being used to put out a leaflet dealing with an issue which should have been negotiated between the C.S.U. and the Government. Mr Thomson said that the leaflet dealt with the purposes of the bill and emphasised that the Government’s concern was that fair relativity be maintained.

“I sent the C.S.U. the proposals in November last year. It would have been helpful if they had agreed, but they have decided they won’t.

“The pamphlet was factual and was deliberately sent out because there was

so much misinformation on the issue.”

In the pamphlet it says that State trade and clerical groups will have their pay rates set in line with private rates at least every two years. That would need regular pay research surveys for big State groups. “The calculation of the general adjustment will be amended so that average earnings in the State sector will move in line with average private sector earnings. “The present calculation has led average State earnings to increase slightly faster than those in the private sector.” Mr Burgess said that the changes to the general adjustment would take away the present right to negotiate and go to the arbitration court.

Large pay research exercises would be totally impracticable.