Editorial: Council workers unhappy

This resturcture will have already attracted the interest of HR consultants and lawyers not engaged by the NRC, writes Craig Cooper. Photo / John Stone

Eleven jobs are on the line at the Northland Regional Council and staff are not happy about it.

I don't blame them.

Employment matters are about process, process, process.

And already there are questions about the process of the restructure proposal rolled out by CEO Malcolm Nicolson on Monday. Eleven jobs will go - eighteen positions will be created.

Unlike corporate restructures, cost is not a driver. The new direction sought by the elected councillors was the catalyst, Mr Nicolson told staff.

After considering this direction and several other factors - independent Human Resource advice among them - Mr Nicolson concluded a restructure proposal was required.

He did not tell councillors - NRC house rules require that restructure proposals go to staff first and elected councillors second.

Come Thursday though, and at least two councillors still did not know about Monday's announcement.

Mr Nicolson also made a strange comment in a press release that he hoped "several of the employees affected by these proposals will consider redeployment or retraining into alternative positions created".

Mr Nicolson later clarified that he should have said "the several employees affected".

"There is no prejudgment here, and I certainly am not suggesting any hope that some employees may not consider new options."

NRC staff are too frightened to speak out - they fear for their jobs. I can understand why.

Restructure proposals should have the legal Is dotted and Ts strenuously crossed.

This one will have already attracted the interest of HR consultants and lawyers not engaged by the NRC.