Library, council staff rally to highlight inadequate wages, high turnover

The PSA says it is short sighted not to recognise the cost-of-living crisis people are facing. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee

Library and council workers across the top of the South Island are rallying to raise their concerns about low wages, poor working conditions and high turnover.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) represents more than 330 employees across councils in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Around 50 union members gathered for a rally outside Civic House in Nelson at lunchtime on Monday.

They held signs that read, "sunshine doesn't pay the bills", "we can't live on praise-we need a raise!" and "weekend rates are overdue".

Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee

The PSA is currently in bargaining with the three councils.

Nelson City Council PSA delegate Jenny Sims said there was a serious disconnect between council and staff, council had acknowledged the stress people were under and that they were struggling to recruit staff.

Sims wanted to see staff paid a fair wage in a bid to reduce high staff turnover.

It was short sighted not to recognise the cost-of-living crisis that people were facing, she said.

"We really need a good standard of living, that's all we're asking for."

Nelson City Council PSA delegate Jenny Sims, second from left, and PSA organiser Ian Hoffman second from right. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee

PSA organiser Ian Hoffman said union members were fed up and just wanted to be paid fairly for their work.

"What we've said time and time again is pay people fairly, recognise the value they bring to our community and they will stay for a career."

Library and customer service staff were in front-facing roles, did not have the option of hybrid working or working from home and their jobs often involved weekend work, he said.

"They serve the community, they need to be recognised and right now here in the top of the south, they are not."