By Jade Irons
Ministry of Justice staff are to begin industrial action tomorrow as a result of failed pay negotiations, which included mediation.
Over 1700 staff members will start work-to-rule action tomorrow and the Public Service Association (PSA) says this may escalate to strike action if a settlement can not be reached.
According to PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff, the ministry has been paying its staff an average of 6.3 percent below the public service median. These staff members have also been denied the right to negotiate their pay collectively.
District Courts general manager Tony Fisher says the ministry “faces tight financial constraints and cannot afford the current union demands,” but is working to resolve the dispute.
He said the ministry had already offered pay increases that would be performance-based, to come into effect from July 1 next year.
Mr Fisher says the ministry will work to ensure that the industrial action would not disrupt services.
3 News