The Public Service Association more than most unions has attempted an appearance of political neutrality, not least because the concept lies at the heart of its members’ work. But perhaps it should give up the pretence.
The press release with its response to the announcement of $2.4b of cuts was headed: “Public Services will be decimated by reckless plan to fire nearly 9000 workers”.
“This is an act of wilful destruction of the public service and all New Zealanders will pay a price for this reckless plan,” it said.
Its response to a similar move by the then-Labour Government on August 28, 2023, to find $4b in savings was contained in a press release headed: “Public service workers must help identify savings in Government new cost cutting drive”.
It was issued by the same person, national secretary Duane Leo, at the same union, for even deeper cuts, but by a Labour Government.
The press release cooed some more: “While it’s never a good time to cut spending on public services, we understand as revenue falls during challenging economic times, savings need to be found”.
There is no doubt that the PSA does some great work on behalf of its members and there is no doubt that this Government is more hostile to unions than a Labour Government would be. But perhaps the PSA should just drop the pretence and affiliate to the Labour Party.
The comparison is stark. They call smaller savings sought by National as reckless wilful destruction but labeled larger proposed cost by Labour as “savings need to be found”
I contrast them to a far more principled union – the Taxpayers’ Union. While the TU is obviously fiscally conservative, putting them on the centre-right, they have often been harshly critical of the National-led Government over the last few years. Hell, sometimes I wince at their press release ripping into the Government.
But that is the difference – one union puts principle ahead of party. The PSA does not.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
2 comments:
As a PSA member I can confirm that this union is utterly leftist and woke. It put a lot of effort into pursuing feminist 'pay equity' initiatives encouraged by the Adern lot. That initiative was based on false assertions, ignored the supply and demand aspect of wage rates, and its cost was always going to be at the expense of the majority of PSA members and their interests.
The PSA opposed the current government's abandonment of a separate race-based health system. In doing so the PSA was essentially calling for a lot of money to be spent on a second administration rather than on the front-line workers comprising most of its membership.
The PSA continues to put out press releases supporting racism through special treatment.
The PSA continually criticises the current government. I haven't seen evidence that the PSA does much to gauge the opinions of its members on any of these matters, but just falsely purports to represent their opinions.
Reading the headline I assumed this article was about the taxpayers union! Then I thought it was about the free speech union.
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