P.s.a. Attacks Privatisation (Press, 7 March 1989)

The Public Service Association (P.S.A.) has announced a significant campaign, with a budget of $500,000, aimed at opposing the privatisation of State-owned assets in New Zealand in the lead-up to the 1990 election. This initiative draws inspiration from similar anti-privatisation campaigns in Britain, with a particular focus on preventing local government privatisations and the contracting out of public services, including local bus services and hospital cleaning. P.S.A. president Sue Pipper acknowledged that trade unions in Britain had faced challenges in stopping the sale of large government businesses. However, she noted that campaigns at smaller levels had seen success. The P.S.A.'s decision to invest substantial resources into this campaign is backed by opinion polls indicating that over 50 per cent of New Zealanders oppose privatisation. Notably, the only demographic showing support for privatisation were Labour party supporters, while National party and undecided voters displayed strong opposition. The campaign will take a structured approach, beginning with a period of public education before the end of March 1989, followed by the establishment of an inter-union coalition against privatisation and further activation of P.S.A. members. The campaign seeks to call for a moratorium on privatisation processes until a date is established for meaningful public debate on the issue, which would mean no new privatisation proposals in the upcoming Budgets of this year and next. As the campaign progresses towards the 1990 election, its goals will expand to ensure that privatisation remains a key electoral issue, and it will push for an all-party commitment that public funding for State-owned enterprises is regarded on equal terms with other investment funding, separate from the general government financial requirements. Pipper clarified that the P.S.A. is not categorically against all forms of privatisation or changes within the Public Service, but aims to restore the public sector's role as a growing component of the economy. The campaign is also part of broader negotiations to achieve a compact between the government and the trade union movement concerning the social wage, as privatisation impacts these issues. Despite criticisms that the initiative might be too late given the government's ongoing privatisation policies, Pipper expressed confidence that public sentiment is shifting, suggesting that people are now more ready to engage in proactive measures regarding these concerns.

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