PSA takes Education Ministry to ERA amid proposed job cuts

The Public Service Association (PSA) has taken the Ministry of Education to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), claiming non-compliance with their collective agreement amid proposed job cuts.

In its statement, the PSA is accusing the ministry of not complying with the requirement that it must do everything it can to redeploy employees it plans to lay off.

"We have asked the Authority to urgently deal with this matter as the livelihoods of hundreds of dedicated public servants are being disrupted by this rushed restructure forced on the Ministry by the government's spending cuts," said Duane Leo, PSA national secretary, in a statement.

The legal step was taken after the PSA attended mediation with the ministry on Thursday, which Leo said ended with "no commitment from the ministry" to comply with the collective agreement.

Collective agreement with PSA

According to Leo, the collective agreement requires the ministry and the PSA to try and agree with the outcomes of cost-cutting exercises.

"This has not been complied with. This is very similar to the clause in the TVNZ and PSA/E tū collective agreement - E tū last week succeeded in its claim at the ERA, forcing TVNZ to consult again with impacted workers," the national secretary said.

He added that they also want the ministry to comply with provisions that require it to "make every attempt to redeploy affected employees… including committing to retraining where possible."

"This provides for a humane and dignified approach that considers the individual circumstances of each worker," Leo said.

Ministry job cuts

The Ministry of Education is proposing the disestablishment of 755 roles, including those in regional offices, the Curriculum Centre, and central services.

Those who work directly with the education sector and in support of the wider education sector workforce are also affected in the proposal, according to the PSA.

"The scale of the restructuring is not an excuse for the Ministry to opt out of its commitments in the collective agreement," Leo said.

"We have reminded the ministry that the government has been clear with the PSA and with the ministry that any changes made across the public sector must be done consistent with collective agreements."

The ministry refused to comment on the case as it is now with the ERA, Stuff reported.