Maori Affairs allowance talks founder

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 8

Maori Affairs allowance talks founder

PA Wellington A last-ditch attempt by the Public Service Association to resolve the dispute between the Department of Maori Affairs and its employees was not successful, the P.S.A. president, Ms Sue Piper, has said.

“The employer will not continue to pay the retention allowance that was agreed in November, 1987. This allowance was introduced to retain the staff of the department until such time as devolution had taken place,” Ms Piper said. “The Department of Maori Affairs has made a paltry wage offer of $7.50 a week. The members of the P.S.A. who work in Maori Affairs believe that this offer is totally unacceptable.” The union wants from the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, a guarantee of employment until April 1, 1989, to be incorporated in the agreement. The remaining outstanding concern relates

to the Treaty of Waitangi. P.S.A. Department of Maori Affairs members have asked that their industrial agreement contain a commitment from the employer that they will honour the principles of the Treaty in their dealings with employees. Stopwork meetings will be held by department staff in all districts on Monday.

Delegates will be recommending to members that they continue their industrial action — no handling of Ministerial enquiries, no communication with head office, common lunch hours — until such time as the department responds with “a reasonable offer.”

It is also suggested that all members stop work for one day to protest at the non-payment of further retention allowances. Maori Affairs staff have been involved in action for more than two weeks and there have been three attempts to try to resolve the dispute by negotiation.