Close result in poll about fair pay changes

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Voters in this week's Gisborne Herald web poll came down against the Government's Fair Pay Agreement, but there was not much in it.

A total of 221 responded to the question, “Do you support the new Fair Pay Agreement system?”

By the time voting closed, 50 percent or 110 respondents said “no”, although early in the week it looked as though the vote would go the other way.

In the end, on the “yes” side were 42 percent, or 93 respondents.

Eighteen voters (8 percent) were undecided.

Few people added comments to support their vote.

Some from those in favour included, “There has never been fair pay”. Another wrote “As it should always have been”.

“No way,” was the brief response from someone who does not agree with fair pay agreements.

Another “no” voter said it was “a backward step”.

And from another, “There is something inherently wrong in only needing 10 percent to force negotiation.”