State Sector Bill

Press, 20 February 1988, Page 35

State Sector Bill

Sir, —State servants have every right to feel let down by the Government’s intervention in its affairs, with the obnoxious condition-threatening State Sector Bill. Public servants expect to have continuous service for a dedicated working life, whereas present Government members can now expect to be dismissed at the end of this three-year term. — Yours, etc., E. A. WILLIAMS. February 16, 1988.

Sir, —In recent months Messrs Lange and Douglas have become distant and arrogant, and have simply stopped listening. They seem to know what is best for us without the simple respect of consultation. Now Mr Stan Rodger seeems to be playing the same rude game with his State Sector Bill. The P.S.A. could be fairly accused of scaremongering, but it is certainly not unreasonable to expect time, consultation, and input into such farreaching legislation. The bill is being pushed through with disgusting haste to deny many people proper representation of their rights to employment and conditions. Scrap the bill. —

Yours, etc., B. S. KENNEDY. February 18, 1988.

Sir,—The State Sector Bill will affect the working conditions of thousands in and out of the State service. Yet again economic factors are being used as an excuse to jeopardise workers in favour of employers. The Cabinet is supporting a millionaire whizzkid and his policies which are restructuring" I New Zealand and

destroying much of what is best in our society. The “reforms” are now exposed as costly experiments, damaging the productive base of farmers, manufacturers and, now, the work force. Mr Douglas speaks of market perception of a job’s worth. Faced with electricity charges, jacked up still higher by Mr Prebble, the public’s perception of Mr Fernyhough’sworth as director of Electricorp is low. How can Roger Douglas justify this man’s obscene salary in terms of the aims of the corporation? Rogernomics strips income from the poor to increase the wealth of the super-rich. — Yours, etc., W. W. WRIGHT. February 16, 1988.

Sir, —The State Sector Bill is upon us. This piece of backstabbing is typical of the Labour Government and an outright disgrace. Many people are blissfully unaware of the devastating effect it could have on them and it is time to wake up and speak out against the insidious methods Mr Lange and his sidekicks are using to pull the rug out from under us all. The hard-won conditions of employment, equal pay, health care and endless other aspects of human rights are all on the way out. We as a nation have already taken gigantic steps backwards and the family unit we have so long held to be paramount is suffering the most. Our Government of supposedly caring politicians, led by an aspiring racing driver, is a sick joke. — Yours, etc., (Mrs) MELANIE J. DALTON. February 16, 1988.