List of 39 released

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 8

List of 39 released

PA Auckland The State Services Commission has distributed a list of 39 former Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority workers who accepted redundancy money and urged that they be not given Public Service jobs without its approval. It has sent a circular to this effect to the 'heads of all Government departments.

Seven salaried and 32 wages staff members accepted redundancy payments when the bridge authority was dissolved on March 31, after legislation restricting the pay-out was nullified by arbitration. The independent arbitrator, Mr Peter Mahon, ruled that the bridge workers

were entitled to redundancy payments, even if they declined jobs offered by the Ministry of Works and Development. He ruled that those jobs did not amount to similar employment under the legislation. However, the circular says that, because those named had turned down the Public Service jobs and taken redundancy money, they should be restricted from further employment in the service.

The secretary of the Northern Local Government Officers’ Union, Mr Ken Tuxford, said the former bridge workers had been blacklisted on top of the trauma of having their jobs abolished.