P.s.a. Widens Its Welfare Scope (Press, 14 August 1982)

On 14 August 1982, during the Public Service Association's annual conference in Wellington, it was decided to extend the payment of Public Service Welfare Society benefits to partners in de facto, homosexual, lesbian, or any continuing individual dependency relationships. This change follows a lengthy debate on the topic, reflecting the association's commitment to the principles outlined in the Working Women's Charter, which advocates for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation. A proposal that sought to limit benefits strictly to partners in legal marriages or recognised de facto relationships was defeated in a card vote. John Patterson, chairman of the Southland branch, expressed frustration over the lengthy discussions focused on social issues rather than on pressing financial matters. His comments highlighted a tension within the association regarding the prioritisation of topics at the conference and the need to focus on core union matters. Dr David Sheppard from Lower Hutt emphasised the importance of tolerance and the need for the association to combat prejudice. He recounted an incident involving a homosexual handyman who had suffered abuse from a supervisor but felt unable to report it due to a lack of support from the association and colleagues. Colin Feslier, the executive officer, argued that those opposing the amendment were fundamentally against the principles of trade unionism. Another delegate pointed out that the amended eligibility for benefits also extended to dependent relationships such as siblings and elderly relatives, allowing them to qualify for benefits like bereavement grants. In addition to the welfare benefits discussion, the conference called for initiatives to promote the establishment of child-care facilities and set a target to increase the representation of women in the association. Concrete steps were planned to ensure that by 1985, at least 50 per cent of the association's workforce would be women, and a third of the decision-making bodies would be female. This strategic move aimed to enhance participation and representation of women in the Public Service Association, following on from discussions on the Working Women’s Charter and its implications for the association’s future.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand