The union representing museum workers says it is "alarmed" to see a quarter of Auckland Museum's staff leave due to restructuring.
The museum announced the results of its restructuring programme today, and said the institution's fulltime equivalent staff numbers remained static, at 165.
However, 46 staff have
left, either by agreement or through redundancy, due to "streamlining" of the staffing structure.
The Public Service Association (PSA), which represents some of the museum's staff, said the need for such large scale restructuring had never been explained.
Association assistant national secretary Warwick Jones said the museum had shed more than a quarter of its staff, and no one knew why.
The association wished more effort had been put into appointing existing staff to the restructured roles.
Mr Jones said staff were told the restructuring was not budget driven and that it was all about changing the way the museum was seen.
"We want to know how that goal has been achieved by shedding the knowledge and skills of 46 staff," Mr Jones said.
"The PSA believes the restructuring process has been very badly handled.
"We believe the museum should be working constructively with its staff to achieve its goals rather than throwing away years of knowledge and a wide range of skills by removing more than a quarter of its staff."
Museum director Vanda Vitali said 78.5 existing employees had retained positions identical or similar to their previous roles; 35.5 appointments had been made internally; 19.5 appointments had been filled by external candidates and 31.5 positions remained pending.
Of the staff who had gone, 24 had left of their own volition or by mutual agreement and 22 had been made redundant.
"All employees were offered counselling, training, and severance in accordance with the museum's policies."
Ms Vitali said the museum had two goals, to increase the value and appeal of the museum for all; and to have a "leading team where the best people want to work".
"This restructure has had those two goals as its top priorities."
Staff at the museum were told in February this year about the restructure.
- NZPA
