The Bargaining Brief
Telling the other side of the story since October 2014
Issue 4
Free
Pay talks: Money no longer an issue?
Staff Reporter
Statistics NZ has been accused of making misleading
statements about its financial position following a major
spending splurge on “contingencies” designed to undermine
PSA members who are taking lawful strike action. The
department had been claiming it could not afford to discuss
pay claims with the PSA, however last week it was revealed
that affordability is no longer a major concern at Stats.
Statistics NZ has confirmed that it is currently spending many
thousands of dollars to redeploy office based staff into field
roles to re-collect data that is already collected by field
interviewers.
As part of this, Statistics NZ will be flying redeployed staff to
different parts of the country for a crash course in field
collections, before flying them on to the regions, and putting
them up in hotels while data is collected.
The spending spree is in stark contrast to statements that
Statistics NZ has made to the PSA bargaining team about there
being “no money” for pay. “If this new money being spent on
the double collection of field data was redirected to the pay
budget we’d be able to settle the negotiations tomorrow” said
a PSA member.
To make matters worse, reports from the Field are showing
that teams of up to five individuals are being appointed to do
the work of one Field Interviewer. These redeployed staff have
been visiting businesses to recollect the same data that a PSA
member has just collected. “It is wasteful, and does nothing to
reduce respondent burden” said a PSA member.
It appears that the move has been designed to minimise the
impact of industrial action on business processes, while
allowing Stats NZ to do absolutely nothing to address the
underlying issue. “It just shows that for Statistics NZ this is far
more about ideology and being “right” than it is about solving
the current dispute. It’s sad really.” said PSA members.
Field interviewers will withdraw the ban on returning field
data when Stats NZ returns to the table and is willing to
negotiate. So far Stats NZ has only attempted to justify its
original position, and there has been no movement.
PSA Assistant National Secretary Basil Prestidge has written to
key users of Statistics NZ data, explaining the risk to official
statistics as a result of PSA members industrial actions.
Secret matrix to remain secret
Following Stats NZ’s admission that a secret matrix exists, to top
up pay increases for some staff, the PSA requested to view
information about the operation of the matrix. Statistics NZ
agreed to consider this request, but has now confirmed that this
information will be withheld. This refusal to share information is
based on Statistics NZ belief that the PSA “has enough
information” to understand the matrix. The secret matrix is used
to distribute nearly 20% of the total amount allocated for pay
increases in 2014. Key questions about the matrix:
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Who is eligible for a “targeted increase” and who is not?
How much is a “targeted increase”?
How are targeted increases distributed and what effect do
they have on the SNZ workforce pay profile?
What are the eligibility criteria?
Who makes the decision to award a targeted increase?
Why is this process so secretive, what is Stats trying to
hide?
The PSA has submitted an Official Information Act request for this
information.
ERA Case nearing conclusion
The case that the PSA has asked the Employment Relations
Authority to rule on is nearing its final stages. In 2013 Stats paid a
backdated pay increase to non-PSA members five months earlier
than PSA members. Stats is unwilling to rectify this anomaly, and
so the PSA has requested that the ERA rule on it. In a
continuation of a pattern, Statistics NZ refused to provide the ERA
or the PSA with useful information on the matter. The ERA ruled
that Stats must provide the information, which has now
happened, and final legal arguments are being submitted.
Chief Sheeple Officer to be appointed?
Rumours are swirling that Statistics NZ is in the process of
appointing a “Chief Sheeple Officer”. Key duties of the rumoured
position may include encouraging compliance with a fixed way of
thinking, and censoring thoughts and ideas that challenge the
status quo. At least one senior manager from Statistics NZ
appears to be auditioning for the largely ceremonial position, and
has been reportedly caught in the act removing all PSA
information from designated notice boards and member’s desks.