Fairness and public value

The Big Picture: a summary of the PSA strategies for fairness and public value.

Bargaining for fair pay and decent work

Click here for the PSA's bargaining strategies.

Democracy at work

Democracy at Work: the PSA's strategic agenda for decent work, high-performing workplaces and public value.

Partnership for Quality

Partnership for Quality recognises the common interest of government, employers and the PSA in building successful and innovative public sector.

The PSA – New Zealand’s public sector union

The PSA – the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi – is a democratic union representing the interests of around 57,000 members working in government departments, local government, the health sector, crown agencies, state-owned enterprises and community and government-funded agencies.

Objective

The PSA’s objective is to build union organisation able to influence the political, economic, industrial and social environments in the interests of the membership of the PSA.

Fair pay and good jobs

Collective bargaining is one of the key ways in which PSA members can work together to improve their living standards and the quality of working life.

The PSA bargains for members in over 400 organisations that, between them, represent the full breadth and diversity of the public sector. Each sector has its own particular needs and the PSA has bargaining strategies that respond to these.

Strong union organisation

Effective recruitment and strong delegate structures are at the heart of union organisation in the workplace.

The PSA has nearly 4000 workplace delegates and runs a comprehensive programme of delegate development, including a series of courses on the skills and knowledge needed for the job.

Democracy at work

Democracy at Work is the PSA’s strategic agenda that takes Partnership for Quality to new levels. It places a strong emphasis on high-quality, democratic workplaces – decent work, decent workplaces – as the key to lifting productivity and public value.

Partnership for Quality: Fairness and Public Value

Partnership recognises the mutual interests of union members and employers in building strong and sustainable public services. It is based on good faith and engagement on issues and the search for solutions.

In 2007, the PSA signed a third Partnership for Quality agreement with the Government and public service employers. The first two agreements laid the groundwork for better and more productive relationships. The third agreement is designed to give union members a stronger voice through effective delegate structures and workplace partnership agreements.

Partnership for Quality document

Tripartite engagement

The Partnership for Quality agreement provides for a tripartite forum of Government, the PSA and public service employers to consult on matters affecting union members and public service delivery.

The tripartite forum is an important opportunity to promote the interests of union members and has led to tangible benefits such as workplace-based retirement savings and the pay and employment equity agenda.

In the health sector, the PSA and other CTU health unions are working with the Government and district health boards to develop a Health Relationship Agreement. This will be similar to the partnership agreement and is designed to tackle problems in hospitals by getting managers, workers and the government to work together more effectively.