Bill ‘needed to ensure efficiency’

Press, 5 March 1988, Page 6

Bill ‘needed to ensure efficiency’

By

JENNY LONG,

education reporter

“A Government of reforming zeal” like i Labour needed the State Sector Bill legislation! to ensure an efficient Public Service, said the member of Parliament for yaldhurst, Mrs Margaret Austin, yesterday.

Mrs Austin was at Christchurch Teachers's College answering questions on the bill : put. by teaching and non-teaching staff and students!

She countered ' suggestions that the changes contained in the bill had been introduced ! without warning. Significant negotiations between the Combined State Unions and the Ministers had taken place in. the previous two years, Mrs Austin said, i The bill’s introduction could not be delayed because parts of i it were needed to allow the Higher Salaries jCommis-

Sion to continue work after April 1. ■ ■

The date on which the bill is set to become law, April 1, was also noted by the audience as ! April Fools' Day. i Questioned about Conditions of employment, Mrs Austin agreed that! some would not carry over as of right after the bill became law. She urged unions to agree to . negotiate with the Government before April so that conditions not now guaranteed by the bill could be assured. '

The select committee hearing submissions on the bill was being: made “well aware" of !- union concerns. Mrs Austin saidj