Long-serving delegate Lucy Gray honoured
The PSA’s long-serving Otago University delegate Lucy Gray, who retired from the role in 2023, has been honoured with a Delegate Achievement Award.
The award, which Lucy received on International Women’s Day, recognises delegates who demonstrate outstanding leadership, and who go above and beyond the expected duties of a delegate.
Lucy joined the PSA in 2000 after starting at Otago University in 1998, and served as a delegate from 2004 to 2023. For much of that time she was Convenor of the delegate group.
Lucy’s nomination for the award by her fellow delegates said that Lucy has been an empathetic and
enthusiastic support for members, and an amazing mentor and agent for positive change among the delegate group.
“She has been the reason why people join the PSA and the University of Otago PSA Delegate team,” the nomination said.
As a delegate, Lucy has worked hard to promote the PSA and pay equity, and served as a member of the Tertiary Sector Committee for many years as convenor. Lucy has also found time to be an active member of the Women’s and Eco networks.
“Lucy's departure from the University of Otago Delegate Group will leave a huge hole in our team and her aroha, bigheartedness, enormous wisdom and EQ will be deeply missed”, her nomination said.
Fuel tax increase will hit care and support workers hard
Care and support workers who use their own car to visit clients are calling for action on their pay equity claim before the rise in fuel excise tax hits their pay packets.
"The Government promised a laser focus on cost of living but increasing fuel excise tax by 22 cents/litre, coupled with the $50 rise in car registration fees, will hit care and support workers hard unless their pay rises," says PSA Assistant Secretary Melissa Woolley.
"Every day care and support workers clock up many miles in their own cars to carry out their essential work providing mental health, disability, and health support, as well as caring and supporting people in our society like the elderly and people with disabilities to live their lives to their full capacity – something we all need to care about for either ourselves or friends and whānau.
"While the taxes are not rising until 2027, care and support workers are already doing it tough and are falling behind with the failure to agree an updated pay equity settlement.
"In addition, the travel cost allowance paid by providers has not kept pace with the rising cost of driving.
"The pay and conditions for workers supporting people in our community need to reflect the rising cost of living. We urge the Government action the outstanding pay equity claim," Melissa says.
Most care and support workers are women, and Government policies are having a disproportionate impact on women, Melissa says.
Peter Hughes a strong advocate for strong public services
Recently retired Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes was a strong advocate for a strong public service that delivers results for New Zealanders and strengthens democracy, National Secretary Kerry
Davies says.
Mr Hughes retired from his role on 29 February 2024 after a public service career spanning 43 years.
Mr Hughes started as a workplace leader when he was elected as a PSA delegate in the Department of
Social Welfare’s Timaru office in the early 1980s. He went on to lead the department from 2001 to 2011. He was also Secretary of Education from 2013 to 2016, before becoming the Public Service Commissioner.
Kerry says that Mr Hughes was a strong advocate for the spirit of service, which people working in public services bring to their jobs.
"He understands the crucial role of public services in providing the foundations the country needs to
tackle issues beyond what could be delivered by solely relying on private enterprise. The wellbeing
of individuals, businesses and the country relies on the support of a strong well-resourced public service," Kerry says.
Mr Hughes has promoted strong and independent public services that ensured Ministers received high-quality advice that can be trusted. "Under the Public Service Act 2020, Mr Hughes took government agencies from a narrow focus on their own patches to working together to achieve better outcomes for New Zealanders and to foster a stronger democracy," Kerry says.
Public service members having their say on workplace changes
PSA delegates and members rallied quickly at the start of the year to ensure the voice of members was heard in response to the Government’s mini budget in December 2023.
The PSA is strongly opposed to any cuts to public services or to the jobs of those who support and
deliver these for New Zealanders.
In developing proposals to meet targets set in the mini budget, chief executives were required by the government to engage with employees, the PSA and other unions. This requirement to engage was the result of the PSA advocating with the Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis and negotiating with
Te Kawa Maataho, the Public Service Commission.
Given that those who do the work are in the best position to understand where systems and processes can be improved, the PSA organised meetings and surveys within workplaces to give members an opportunity to have their say about how changes can be made without job losses.
Delegates then prepared submissions to public service chief executives about change that is consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and does not result in job losses.
