Media Release

Union calls for National and Labour accord on public services in response to record surplus

The union representing public service workers, the PSA, is today calling on the National and Labour parties to develop a bipartisan accord about investing in public services for New Zealand and New Zealanders.

“There is still further investment needed in the public service before National or Labour can consider personal tax cuts,” said Brenda Pilott, PSA National Secretary.

“In the spirit of MMP, both parties should show their commitment to public services by agreeing to more investment in public services through a formal accord.”

The National Party today said that they want to ensure there are strengthened public services.

“We welcome the National Party’s claim they want to ensure that public services are strong rather than constantly cutting funding and increasing user charges like they did during the 1990s.”

“The see-saw approach to funding public services in the past, which saw investment followed by cuts, strips public services of their capability and removes critical institutional knowledge in the public sector.”

“An accord would ensure that the future of important public services like health, conservation, border control and social welfare is safeguarded.”

The PSA is New Zealand’s largest union representing over 55,000 public service workers in local and central government, health and community services.

ENDS

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