Public Service Association acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons described the proposed cuts as "disgraceful". Photo / Mark Mitchell
Public Service Association acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons described the proposed cuts as "disgraceful". Photo / Mark Mitchell
Health NZ faces legal action from the Public Service Association to stop proposed job cuts.
The PSA claims Health NZ plans to cut a net 1500 roles, affecting public health and digital services.
The cuts are part of a “reset” of the organisation which aims to find $1.4 billion in savings.
Health NZ - Te Whatu Ora is facing urgent legal action to stop it from cutting thousands of jobs.
The Public Service Association (PSA) has filed proceedings with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to stop what it claims are breaches of employment law and other agreements.
The union says Health NZ has proposed cutting a net 1500 roles from the Data and Digital Directorate, the National Public Health Service and the Pacific Health Directorate. Health NZ has disputed the scale of the potential job losses.
Among the proposed roles to be cut are advisers who help people quit smoking and dedicated Māori and Pacific public health advisers.
“This has all been about saving dollars, not saving lives,” PSA acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.
“It’s disgraceful. That’s why we are asking the Employment Relations Authority to urgently hear our case.”
The PSA is seeking a compliance order from the ERA on the basis Health NZ has breached employment law, collective agreement obligations, and internal codes and charters that underline the importance of patient safety in all decision-making.
The union is hoping this will force Health NZ to rethink the wide-scale cuts and go back to the drawing board. It is understood further cuts are likely to be announced by Health NZ in coming months, including in the procurement supply unit and the planning, funding and outcomes unit.
The largest changes are proposed in the data and digital team, where 1000 jobs, or nearly half the workforce, could be removed.
Health NZ began consulting with affected staff in December and was now considering staff feedback. It has yet to make a final decision on the changes.
Interim chief human resources officer Fiona McCarthy said she could not comment on an ongoing legal matter, but said Health NZ had been focused on transparency with both staff and unions through this process.
“Health New Zealand ... is currently going through a reset to strengthen our frontline; provide quality, compassionate, affordable healthcare at the right time and in the right place and, importantly, achieve the health and mental health and addiction targets,” she said.
Another 600 people have taken redundancy under the three-year reset of the centralised health agency led by Health Commissioner Lester Levy.
Health NZ Commissioner Professor Lester Levy is leading a reset of the organisation after it was found to be overspending by $140m a month. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Levy was brought in by the Government in July out of concern about overspending of around $140m a month at the organisation. He has been tasked with finding $1.4 billion in savings.
The latest financial update shows Health NZ on track for a $1.1 billion loss in the current financial year.
On Friday, chief executive Margie Apa stood down from her role five months before her term ended, saying she wanted to “make space” for a new leader to continue the overhaul of the organisation.
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