Court staff strike over pay

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Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:28p.m.

The PSA says the justice ministry is refusing to engage in pay negotiations and this is just the beginning of industrial action by the union

The PSA says the justice ministry is refusing to engage in pay negotiations and this is just the beginning of industrial action by the union

Nearly 2000 justice staff from around the country staged a one-hour strike this morning.

The PSA says the Justice Ministry is refusing to engage in pay negotiations and this is just the beginning of industrial action by the union.

Around 100 justice workers walked off the job and rallied outside Wellington District Court this morning protesting over pay.

“Ministry staff have identified that they're a long way behind the median pay rates, what they should be paid,” says PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“1200 are nearly 10 per cent below the rates they should be paid.”

The union says they have been working to negotiate a deal since two collective employment agreements expired four months ago, but there has been no progress.

When asked about what has been offered and what he wants, Mr Wagstaff says they simply have not offered a new pay system.

1700 justice workers joined the strike action around the country.

In Manukau, the PSA brought court and call-centre workers by bus from Papakura and Ellerslie to join the picket line.

“It'll be closing a number of courts around the country,” says PSA organiser Kevin McGorry.

“It'll also mean call-centres are down, it's just not the right time to ring the ministry at the moment.

“It'll also be disrupting the bailiffs and collections staff as well.”

Court taker Hardev Thakur says:

“They are uncertain how many times it will affect the court because it will be for many days.”

The Ministry of Justice told 3 News it is committed to resolving the industrial action.

Meanwhile, the unions voted to continue rolling strikes this week and next, unless the ministry engages in what they describe as "meaningful pay negotiations".

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Comments

05 Mar 2011 05:38p.m.

keith wrote:

Go the MOJ workers, this government has plenty of money for big business and Peter Jackson, its time to deliver a fair pay deal to others. I am surprised that this government has not used the misery of the Canterbury earthquake as an excuse for not negotiating. I wish you all well. Remember you may not be able to change this governments policies BUT you can change the government.

24 Nov 2009 05:59a.m.

Kaio wrote:

I am a employed in field operation for the MOJ and what we are not happy about is that we generate income for the government and we are gauged on KPI's and gathering $1000.000's for the MOJ. The only people that are paid huge bonuses are the Chief Executives and we have sat on pathetic salaries for years and we don't have a chance of a payrise under this regime until 2011

28 Oct 2009 08:11a.m.

Eez wrote:

Ok Kevin. What about the years when there has been money and still the MOJ staff have been denied a catchup to bring them to the median? The lack of money has not stopped MP's from keeping (and increasing) their perks.

27 Oct 2009 05:32p.m.

Rangi wrote:

Sack em all, they are a bunch of bureaucratic bludgers anyway

27 Oct 2009 04:41p.m.

mike wrote:

you also need to remember that the MOJ is the only ministry that has also said no movement within their bands as well as no movement of the bands - basically justice is saying no to any pay rise despite the efforts their staff are making. You can deliver a high quality justice system when you are paying your staff peanuts and then not allowing them to even move within their pay bank like normal people.

27 Oct 2009 03:26p.m.

Kevin wrote:

Well, yeah ... but there's a reason for this. The Government has frozen all public service remuneration so the Justice Ministry cannot engage in pay negotiations, can it? What the hell is it going to negotiate when it's owner has said no movement at all? Sheesh ..... watch the bloody news sometimes will ya?