Dis-establishing 35 positions in 11 regional Work and Income offices is a ''kick in the teeth for staff,'' Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Brenda Pilott says.
She said the PSA, New Zealand's largest trade union, was alarmed the restructure was announced at the same time as ''sweeping'' welfare reforms.
''It seems like bad practice and very bad timing. Work and Income staff are already bracing themselves for the extra 80,000 clients they will have to support as part of the reforms, so more change and uncertainty is a kick in the teeth for staff who have worked hard to implement the Government's directives.''
Work and Income staff needed security and continuity in the workplace to enable them to deliver the increase in services, she said.
''The PSA is also deeply concerned with the lack of transparency around the restructure plans.''
Work and Income national commissioner Carl Crafar said the Work and Income staff were advised earlier this week that back-office structures and functions would be reviewed.
No service centre or front-line roles would be affected by the review.
''In fact, Work and Income frontline roles have been boosted by 500 staff as a result of the October and July Welfare Reform changes.''
He said the jobs being disestablished would not translate to job losses ''because of current vacancies''.
Work and Income had not reviewed its regional structures for more than 10 years, he said.
''Since then the organisation, the client population and the way we work with people have all changed, meaning new positions have been created and some older positions are no longer necessary.''
The review was expected to be completed by the end of the year and staff were being consulted about the proposed changes.
In the southern South Island, Work and Income has offices in Alexandra, Balclutha, Bluff, Dunedin Central, Dunedin South, Gore, Invercargill, Lumsden, Mosgiel, Nightcaps, Oamaru, Ohai, Otautau, Queenstown, Riverton, Te Anau, Timaru, Tuatapere, Waimate and Winton.
