The findings of a review of the Public Service Commission’s advertising condemning lawful strike action last year by tens of thousands of workers, including 21,000 PPTA members, should be of serious concern to all New Zealanders, says Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua president. “A politically neutral public service commission is a cornerstone of a healthy and functioning democracy. “All around the world we are seeing so many examples of individuals’ and nations’ legal and democratic rights being abused at best and quashed at worst. The Public Service Commissioner being seen to play politics could understandably be perceived as the beginning of a slippery slope. “We hope that the Public Service Commissioner reflects carefully on the findings of this review and commits to acting more wisely in future.”