[Going2NZ]

Hi

I will be starting a job with NZ Customs in a couple of weeks and I had some questions for anyone who is working in a government job. Such as:

Is it worthwhile to join one of the unions? I can't see any real diference between the individual contract and the union version. And, do you pay dues or is it just a declaration of sorts?

Is there a cost-of-living increase yearly? One item in the paperwork I received seems to indicate this but that is the only reference and no details.

Can you take annual leave as you earn it or do you have to wait a full year?

What are the "standard" holidays mentioned?

I know I have other questions but my head is reeling from reading all 100 pages of this document so nothing else is coming to me at the moment.

Any advice is most appreciated.

[adamsat]

I do work for a government agency, but it doesn't seem to be like the UK where there is a civl service with roughly equivalent grades and terms whoever you work for.

I didn't join the PSA as my contract was outside the collective bargaining agreement. I did join the superannuation scheme though.

I can take my leave as I earn it, something like 2.5 hours per week I think.

Standard holidays seem to be all of the usual holidays plus the regional holiday for where you work plus some others - but these may vary from agency to agency. For example I'm getting Wed, Thu, Fri this week off as a standard holiday but they are not official national holidays.

I hope this helps

[Moorf]

Yep, I work for the Government, albeit in the library network.

They do have Grades like the civil service.

Holiday entitlement, in my case, is 4 weeks plus, as Adamsat mentioned, standard holidays (bank hols).

I started my job in September, but they still allowed me to take 3 weeks holiday this December. This may depend on which department you work for, but I certainly had no problems at all in getting annual leave prior to "earning" it.

I am not joining the Union. It's a personal and informed choice based on research and discussions with colleagues. It costs about $10 / week. Said colleagues would also give a hefty belly laugh at the thought of getting "cost of living" rises - apparently it's like getting blood out of a stone. Again, this could be dependent on which department you are working for.

Hope that helps a little.

Moorf

[richard]

Hi

...
Is it worthwhile to join one of the unions? I can't see any real diference between the individual contract and the union version. And, do you pay dues or is it just a declaration of sorts?
...

In the UK I used to work for an ex-public utility and although I wasn't a member of the Union I used to get whatever pay rises were negotiated by them.

In NZ I work for the local Council and unless you are a Union member you don't automatically get any pay rises at all. It is up to you to negotiate them.

I will see what happens after my first year before I decide whether to join the Union or not. I believe if I join I would work 37.5 hours instead of 40 but my pay would decrease accordingly. On top of that I would have to pay Union subs so I am not totally convinced yet.

[Going2NZ]

Hi all

I did find out that even if I don't join the union, I get to reap the benefits of anything they negotiate. In other words, if my "band" gets a pay raise, so do I, union or not.

On the holiday time, being an American I sure can't complain about that! At my last company you had to be there for 20 YEARS before you got 4 weeks off. My soon-to-be-boss said the standard is 3 weeks for new employees but she's negotiated 4 for me since she couldn't bump the salary up any more. And everyone in Customs gets the week between Christmas and New Year's off so it actually works out to 5 weeks. Holy cow!

Personally, I'm leaning against joining the unions like you Moorf. It doesn't seem to add any value. Plus I like to figure out how things work before I dive in. I can always join later.

[ruthyroo]

I work for local government in NZ.

I haven't joined the PSA (yet) as most local authorities have an arrangement whereby people with individual contracts (i.e. non union) have the same / at least as good pay and conditions as union members. I have been told recently that the PSA is keen to put a stop to this - they feel that us free loaders are benefiting from the union's work without suporting the union. So who knows how that will pan out... I guess if you are confident negotiating your own pay and conditions you can go it alone.

Cost of living rises... what's that??

All LG positions are graded and have a salary scale attached. Depending on how well you are perceived to be performing you will earn something between 80 - 100% of that salary - and it increases with each successful performance review. This might be a LA thing though.

Holidays - varies with employer / manager. Some places let you build up and take leave straight away, others stick with the letter of the law and expect you to work your year. Unpaid leave is always an option - I used this in my last job, and basically got paid for 15 days over the year. Standard holidays are 15 days leave (up to 20 next year). Some people negotiate more paid leave instead of a salary increase.

HTH