PSA urges DOC to put restructuring proposals on hold in light of budget top-up

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi has issued a formal letter to the Department of Conservation urging them to put restructuring plans on hold.

Yesterday, the government announced a budget top-up of $20 million over the next four years to bolster staff numbers. The top-up comes only a month after DOC Director General Al Morrision had announced plans for 140 job cuts in his restructuring proposal.

The PSA has been a major critic of the current restructuring plans and believes that any such plans should be made in consultation with members for an end result that is sustainable and that adds value to the services that New Zealanders and tourists from around the world expect.

“Our members at DOC have raised concerns that the current proposal has been primarily a balance-sheet exercise and would leave area offices and field centres short-staffed. It seems that the government is finally listening. DOC should take this as an opportunity to rethink, rather than ploughing on with plans that were formulated before the arrival of the top-up,” says Brenda Pilott, PSA national secretary.

The PSA hopes that its letter will now encourage DOC to revaluate its restructuring proposal and find alternative solutions that do not impact on New Zealand’s excellent reputation both here and abroad.

“We know that New Zealand’s public services need to offer value for money but the people that work for DOC are the reason that New Zealand has such a great reputation in the global tourism industry.”

The PSA continues to make itself available to DOC to constructively engage and find alternative solutions.

ENDS

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