Green staff unhappy

Radio NZ reports:

A letter from disgruntled Green Party staff to its MPs has revealed complaints of low morale, bad communication and unfair treatment.

Two interesting aspects here. One is that the staff are unhappy enough to write a letter to the caucus. The second is that the letter got leaked. The leaking suggests a deliberate move to undermine the leadership.

The Green Party has always prided itself on its tikanga, campaigning strongly on workers rights, speaking frequently at union events and describing work as “being valued and valuing each other”.

I find those not very good at something are often those who spend the most time talking about it.

RNZ understands there has been a push from senior party staff to hire external people for key advisor roles. There was some pushback, with one minister, Julie Anne Genter, going against the directive and hiring existing staff.

The letter makes it clear that some staff also took exception with the processes and some were left with the “distinct impression they were not valued” or that they had “defects” in their work.

“MPs and senior staff should now be fully aware of the damage to staff morale created by this drift away from Green kaupapa,” the letter said.

All parties face the challenge of deciding if the staff that worked for them in opposition are the right ones for government and vice-versa. Often different skill sets are needed. But most parties manage to do it in a way so that staff feel valued regardless of the decisions.

The letter also states staff were prevented from providing feedback on a proposed staffing structure and “MPs impinged upon important rights to be heard”.

Surely all the staff are PSA members? Have they called on the PSA to intervene?

After the election, the party lost nearly half its number of MPs, forcing it to shed staff and reshuffle office spaces.

The promotion into government not long after added to the chaos.

“Many staff have been in a holding pattern for over a month, which has created uncertainty, paralysis, and low morale,” the letter said.

National had the far harder task of going from 100 or so ministerial staff (excluding secondees) to 20 – 25 in opposition. They managed it pretty quickly and without rancor.

While the Green Party has been celebrating having ministers for the first time, it’s understood this has created some tension within the caucus, with some long-serving MPs, who were overlooked, feeling disgruntled.

Gareth Hughes is probably the one who has the most right to be disgruntled. He’s been in Parliament longer than the three who became Ministers.