Union to withdraw ERA, Commerce Commission action against ACC
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is backing out of its plan to increase in-office days after strong pushback from employees, according to the Public Service Association (PSA).
The withdrawal comes after the PSA's legal action at the Employment Relations Authority and days after the union filed a complaint with the Commerce Commission.
"This is a clear victory for workers at ACC and for common sense, working from home is a win-win for workers and employers," said Fleur Fitzsimons, national secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
"Our union delegates were instrumental in making sure ACC understood the depth of feeling. This win belongs to them and all the ACC staff who spoke up."
ACC's return-to-office plan
The ACC informed staff earlier this year that they would be required to work onsite three days a week starting December, reducing remote work to two days.
But criticism of the move prompted the agency to pause the change and consult with staff, where 80% expressed opposition due to the plan's impact on wellbeing and work-life balance.
The PSA also launched legal action against the ACC at the ERA over the in-office mandate.
It also asked the Commerce Commission to investigate if the ACC breached the Fair Trading Act after the agency's job ads promised three days of working from home.
"Those actions will now be withdrawn following ACC's change of heart," the PSA said in its media release.
This leaves the ACC and PSA's collective agreement before the ERA, which is currently in facilitation.
