WELLINGTON — Nearly 10,000 New Zealand public servants walked off the job for several hours on Wednesday, rejecting wage offers they say would leave them worse off in real terms amid high living costs ahead of an election in about two months, Reuters reported.
Stoppages at major government agencies disrupted employment and social-housing support. Protests were held nationwide, and several hundred workers gathered near Parliament waving union flags and chanting for workers’ rights.
Union representative Kate Hamilton told the crowd the pay offer was not enough to offset living-cost increases: “We have to draw a line.” Labour’s Chris Hipkins and Green lawmaker Julie Anne Genter spoke in solidarity; Hipkins said, “You cannot cut your way to a better public service.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s centre-right government has cut public-service numbers and promises further reductions to balance the budget and fund frontline police and prison staff—putting staffing squarely on the campaign agenda.
Sources: Reuters
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