Go-slow may hit benefit payments

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 1

Go-slow may hit benefit payments

Social Welfare Department officials in Christchurch fear that benefit payments could be seriously affected soon if staff restrictions continue.

The “go-slow” policy, imposed by clerical staff of the Public Service Association three weeks ago, had been even further affected by a dispute by Government typists, said the Christchurch director, Mr Terry Comer, yesterday.

This meant that some benefit payments were not meeting deadlines, a situation which could only worsen if the restrictions continued, he said.

Shorter-term benefits, such as the unemployment and domestic purposes benefits, were more likely to be affected and the department was making emergency arrangements in cases of hardship.

Mr Comer said that the P.S.A. had indicated no further progress in the dispute and he feared that the public could soon become agitated.

The association has apologised in newspaper and radio advertisements for any inconvenience, and encouraged people to go to the office to make inquiries rather than telephone. The restrictions include limited public office hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a ban on the preparation of statistical returns, and a ban on implementing new policies. Telephone operators accept only one call every five minutes during the restricted hours and none after those hours. The action is over dissatisfaction with staffing levels, the workloads associated with those levels, and other problems.