Axe falls on council’s frontline staff

By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

Auckland Council’s staff cuts are more likely to fall on frontline workers than higher salary earners, according to chief executive Jim Stabback.

At the Governing Body meeting on May 23, Stabback said council’s latest reduction of 160 fulltime employees would have long-term savings.

“We have been diligent in our recruiting practices, not filling roles that have become vacant, especially non-customer facing roles,” Stabback said.

Cr Angela Dalton asked if it was higher or lower paid workers losing their jobs. Stabback said the cuts were mixed.

He said council was not filling vacancies for positions such as team leaders, managers and more senior roles.

When asked whether those senior roles were above the $200,000 salary band, Stabback said there were fewer roles in that salary band so it was less likely.

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He said that the next round of job cuts, if the Mayor’s annual budget 2023/24 proposal was approved, would more likely be employees on lower salaries.

Dalton asked whether those cuts could impact Māori and Pasifika workers at council more significantly, but Stabback said it was still too early to gauge the impacts on different groups.

Cr Julie Fairey said the details would be important for councillors when making their decisions on the budget.

“We do have certain obligations in terms of being a rainbow tick employer and things like joining Age Friendly Cities,” Fairey said. She was also interested in knowing how many women and part-time employees could be impacted in the budget proposal.