PSA delegates and staff are working hard to prepare for and support local government sector workers about to go through major reforms this year.
Aotearoa’s local government sector is undergoing an unprecedented series of changes in response to legislative reforms and directives from the National-led Coalition Government.
The Government announced in December that regional councils will be dissolved, and then just five months later, asked local councils to determine how they could best amalgamate under the Head Start programme.
These major structural reforms come on top of new rates-capping legislation – which we expect will constrain what councils can achieve – as well as the biggest changes to the Resource Management Act in 30 years.
We understand that many of our members working for councils and other local government organisations will be already feeling pressure, and may be feeling uneasy – especially against a backdrop of three years of austerity, restructures, and job cuts.
THE GOOD NEWS: WE’VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEFORE
Many PSA local government members will remember the Auckland Super City amalgamation, which took three years of formal planning before its launch in 2010, and much more recently, the merging of Auckland Transport into Auckland Council.
As a union, we worked closely with management over both processes, providing detailed feedback on proposed changes and sitting in on dozens of meetings. As a result, both management and workers were able to work through impacts on staff together and in good faith.
WE MUST HAVE A JUST TRANSITION
PSA council workers acknowledge that there’s an appetite for local government reform.
What we are focused on negotiating are four key points:
1. No job losses: We will not accept cuts to roles under the cover of amalgamation.
2. All workers must keep their current terms, conditions and remuneration.
3. Union members must be actively engaged in every step of the transition.
4. A commitment to delivering on te Tiriti obligations both in transition and planning for new local government organisations.
NEXT STEPS
Local government organisations are required to make their proposals for amalgamation by August, which are dependent on final decisions by Cabinet in May 2027.
You can read the full timeline (as well as more information on the amalgamation) on the Department of Internal Affairs website.
We can expect transition plans to be refined and executed in the latter half of 2027.
In the meantime, PSA union members can get organised. Talk to your workmates who aren’t part of the union, and consider becoming a delegate if you aren’t one together. We’re stronger together.
