The Public Service Association is worried that recent incidents have jeopardised the trust between staff and councillors at Wellington City Council.
PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay said trust is the key to dealings between councillors and staff. Photo: RNZ / Teresa Cowie
Councillors have been barred from speaking to staff without permission, and they now have limited access to the civic building after one councillor apparently rifled through a worker's desk, and another sent an angry email criticising a staff member.
Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Glenn Barclay said trust is the key to dealings between councillors and staff.
"The element of trust is really at the heart of the relationship between staff and councillors, that's really important.
"Councillors need to be aware of what their role is. It's essentially a governance role, they don't employ council staff, the chief executive does that.
"So staff don't work for them and aren't there to do their bidding on a range of things."
He said restoring trust was important.