Source: PSA
The Department of Internal Affairs has told staff today that it is axing another 46 jobs, which the PSA says which will ramp up workload on remaining staff and put New Zealanders at risk.
The changes confirmed to staff at briefings today will see many roles merged, such as the Manager Digital Violent Extremism being merged with a Manager Digital Messaging and Systems, says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
“Expecting one manager to do the work of two, especially at a time when the risk of violent extremism is escalating, is dangerous and makes no sense,” Fitzsimons says.
The changes will also see Personal Assistants become responsible for two General Managers instead of one.
“Reducing Personal Assistants is a false economy that will see senior managers spending more time doing administrative work, rather than the work they were employed to do. At the same time, it increases the likelihood of the Personal Assistants facing burn out from unreasonably increased workloads.
“Personal Assistants do the type of vital support role performed predominantly by women that are dismissed by the Government but are the glue that hold organisations together,” Fitzsimons says.
The changes follow proposals put forward for consultation in March, which aimed to save approximately $8 million a year to meet Government savings targets. They followed a wave of restructuring last year which saw, among many changes, the loss of key staff keeping children safe from online harm, and those stopping scams and international crime syndicates engaging in money laundering.
As well as the 46 roles confirmed to today, another 69 fixed term roles were not renewed and the DIA is reconsulting on changes that may see another net reduction of 14 roles.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health, and community groups.