Underpaid Parliamentary support staff are looking at a further pay cut in real terms if the Government doesn’t consider them in the coming budget.

A just-released salary survey conducted by the Employment Relations & Payroll Branch of the Parliamentary Service shows that Parliamentary support staff are paid 8.38% below the median market pay rate for executive support staff across the public and private sector.

“This week letters signed by the Green and Labour caucuses have been sent to the Speaker who is the Minister for the Parliamentary Service and Bill English, Minister of Finance. The letters ask that money is made available to pay members’ support staff fairly,” said John Goodall, a Public Service Association organiser.

“Politicians and their support staff have voiced these concerns to the Ministers because the ongoing wage freeze is a barrier to recruiting and retaining experienced and high calibre staff in positions of vital public importance. These support staff assist our democratic representatives in all areas of their work and are responsible for maintaining relationships with Member’s constituencies,” said Mr Goodall.

“Parliamentary support staff are now 8.38% below the market median rate of pay. The three unions representing Parliamentary support staff – PSA, Service and Food Workers, and Unite – have negotiated remuneration reviews in good faith for the past two years, without result,” said Don Swan, a Service and Food Workers Union organiser.

“Members of Parliament are justifiably concerned that their support staff have gone two years without a pay rise and are being told this year they won’t receive a wage increase either” said Mr. Swan.

“Support staff and their unions are grateful that MPs are speaking out in favour of a wage increase with the Reserve Bank expecting inflation expected to hit five percent this year. If our Minister of Finance was serious about closing the wage gap with Australia he could consider the fact that Australian parliamentary staff earn nearly $30 000 more a year than their New Zealand counterparts,” said Omar Hamed, Unite Union organiser.

Contact: Omar Hamed
029 455 5789
omar@unite.org.nz