HNZ staff hold more stoppages over pay

Part of a new Housing New Zealand development. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) staff were today holding four-hour stoppages in Wellington and Hastings, as part of continuing national industrial action in support of improved pay and employment conditions.

The Public Service Association (PSA) members, who make up 40 per cent of HNZ staff, have been taking part in industrial action for more than a month and are frustrated at what they see as lack of progress.

Four-hour stoppages have already been held this week in Auckland and Whangarei.

PSA said HNZ's pay system was not fair and was discretionary.

"We just want to negotiate a fair and transparent pay system yet Housing New Zealand is refusing to discuss this," said PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff.

"We also want certainty for our members around job restructuring.

"There have been job cuts for staff in rural housing and we understand more change is coming; this is a serious concern for our members but Housing New Zealand is refusing to commit to a transparent and fair process for managing it."

Nobody was available for comment at HNZ today.

But the agency's general manager organisation development and performance Philippa Jones previously said it had been bargaining with the PSA since September.

"We have made an affordable and fair offer to our staff who are union members. That offer is appropriate to the economic conditions."

- NZPA