Lower paid targeted in Govt dept, settlements

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 35

Lower paid targeted in Govt dept, settlements

PA Wellington Targeting the lower paid is the feature of a number of proposed settlements for Government departments worked out between the Public Service Association and the State Services Commission. Details of the settlements, which still have to be accepted by P.S.A. members, were reported by “The Evening Post” newspaper. The State Services Commission had been refusing to release details of the settlements until finally accepted by the P.S.A.

But a director of industrial relations, Ms Julie Craig, confirmed the accuracy of the figures for all the departments except for Inland Revenue for which she said she did not have details. D.S.I.R. staff earning up to $26,000 a year will get a wage increase of 4 per cent.

Those earning above $26,000 will get a flat $l6

a week increase, about 3.2 per cent.

The documents are for an 18-month period with a further 2.5 per cent increase after 12 months. The settlement will add just above 2 per cent to the department’s wage bill.

A costly allowance is to be axed.

Ministry of Forestry staff earning up to $24,000 will get a 4 per cent increase.

Those earning between $24,000 and $38,000 will get a flat $l6 a week, between 2.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent, while those earning above $38,000 will get a $lO a week increase, about 1.4 per cent. The document runs for 18 months with a further 2 per cent after 12 months.

Fourteen positions have been excluded.

The cost to the department’s wage bill is just below 2 per cent. Inland Revenue Department staff earning up to

$34,000 will get a yearly pay increase of $B5O, a percentage increase of about 2.5 per cent. Those earning more than $34,000 will receive an extra $572 a year, about 1.7 per cent.

Staff will receive a further 2 per cent on November 6, 1989. Thirty-eight positions have been excluded from coverage and the document runs for 18 months.

Justice Department staff earning up to $20,182 will get a flat $15.50 a week increase, about 4 per cent. Those earning up to $38,118 will get a $l7 a week increase, about 2.3 to 4.4 per cent, while those earning above that figure get $15.50 a week increase, about 2.1 per cent or less. The documents runs for 18 months with a further 2 per cent increase after 12 months.

Fifty positions have been excluded from coverage.

The settlement adds about 2.9 per cent to the department’s wage bill. Social Welfare Department staff earning up to $33,564 get a $15.52 a week increase, about 2.4 per cent. Those earning above that figure get an $9.30 a week increase, about 1.5 per cent or less.

The document runs for 18 months with a further 2 per cent increase after 12 months. The settlement adds about 2.5 per cent to the department’s wage bill. Senior management have been excluded from coverage. Audit Office staff earning up to $30,500 get an increase of $9OO a year, about 3 per cent.

Those earning above that figure get an extra $4OO a year, about 1.3 per cent.

The document is for 12 months.

Senior management is excluded from-coverage.