State and the Union : An Oral History of the PSA 1984-2012

I remember being in my office one morning and I got a call from [National MP] Bill Birch to say ‘You’d better get over here, they’ve introduced the state sector legislation and you might like to see the final rites of the public service.’” — former Public Service Association president Colin Hicks. In this candid oral history of the union from 1984 to the present, 26 PSA members and staff talk about the tumultuous events of the late 1980s and ’90s and the often painful process of change and rebuilding. Today the PSA, which celebrates its centenary this year, is the country’s largest and most influential union.

Includes contributions from Ron Burgess, Kevin Burrows, Paul Cochrane, Joris de Bres, Kathryn Fraser (Kemp), Jean Greedy, Keith Gutsell, Peter Harris, Colin Hicks, Kathy Higgins, Georgina Kerr, Bruce McKinlay, Kiwhare Mihaka, Brenda Pilott, Sue Piper, Janet Quigley, Na Raihania, John Robson, Stan Rodger, Paula Scholes, John Shennan, Tony Simpson, Mike Tana, Joe Tonner, David Thorp, Jim Turner, Richard Wagstaff and Clare Wells.

Featured in the 20 January 2014 New Zealand newsletter.
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