Staffing Slash denied

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 1

Staffing Slash denied

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PETER LUKE,

HL .... . •; ii.political reporter

Wild speculation (of Labour Department staff cuts of 30 per cent was inaccurate and politics at its dirtiest, isaid the Minister of Labour, Mr Rodger, yesterday.

Reacting to Opposition predictions i of the departmental chariges,| to be announced today, Mr Rodger accused the Opposition of trying to discredit him while ithle State Sector Bill was debated by Parliament. He turned claims; of Government callousness to its workers on its head, saying the Opposition had sacrificed staff interests for political (advantage. !! “Theirs has been a cheap, showy! display that will achieve nothing -more than inaccurate and emotional [ headlines,” he said. J [ ’ . “The [Department of Labour has made every effort to ensure that details of the review would be heard! first, and accurately, by staff.”; The! Opposition predictions came! [less than a week after the much criticised Rural Bank staff changes and at a time when the , Government is under ' assault from State unions . over its treatment of the State Sector Bill. The. reorganisation was “furl ther proof that the Government i treats-its own employees with-

undisguised contempt,” said the Opposition member of Parliament for Taranaki, Mr Roger Maxwell. Employees would be given “Dear John” letters and ; given only a short time to find [more jobs. ' | The Opposition’s information .— which it said had fallen off the bacWf several trucks ■ — was [that up to 30 per cent of the department’s 2000 staff would be made redundant. Not all the job | losses would come in today’s first phase, Mr Maxwell said. ! ! Mr. Rodger described this [figure' as wild speculation and ! absolutely incorrect | The Opposition spokesman on labour, Mr Bill Birch, said that the department would be reorganised into four divisions — employment, immigration, occupational safety,, and industrial relations. J [ I Vocational guidance had been offered to the Education Depart- . ment, but refused, and would fall into limbo, said Mr Birch. Immigration charges would increase and this division would suffer staff transfers but few actual losses. -