Inland Revenue managers run for cover as further strike action looms

Source: PSA

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Senior management at the Inland Revenue Department (IR) have decided to cancel a two-day conference in Auckland, rather than front up to a small group of workers tomorrow.

PSA members at IR will walk off the job for four hours tomorrow (Wednesday 1 August), because IR is refusing to come back to the bargaining table with any additional money to meet their requests.

"Our members have asked for two very reasonable things: a fair pay system and a modest across-the-board pay increase," PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay says.

"They decided since the bosses wouldn’t come to them, they would come to the bosses - at a conference in Auckland’s Waipuna Hotel.

"But rather than front up, IR has cancelled a number of conferences around the country, at an estimated cost of $100,000."

Mr Barclay says PSA members are not asking for a government handout, as IR has just handed $29 million back to the government and has a projected underspend of more than 5 per cent.

"Our members at IR are mainly front-line staff who are not well paid," he says.

"One in four staff is paid less than $48,000, and we have heard many stories of IR workers struggling to make ends meet, relying on the tax credits they themselves administer.

"That’s not fair, and it’s not right.

"This four-hour stoppage will leave many members out of pocket, as they aren’t paid for the time they’re on strike.

"But they’re standing together because they want a fair deal and a better working life."

Notes for editors:

PSA members in Auckland will walk off the job at 8.30am, the rest of the country at 9am. Details of the strike action around the country are here: https://www.psa.org.nz/media/news/ir-strike-action-1-august/

ENDS

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