KEY POINTS:
Civilian staff working for the Defence Force are holding lunchtime rallies throughout the country today to protest against a zero per cent pay rise offer.
The civilian staff provide support for army, navy and air force personnel.
The rallies, organised by the PSA representing 865 civilian staff, are being held at Defence Force offices and bases throughout the country.
PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said the civilian staff were fed up.
"After almost a year of negotiations to renew their collective agreement, the Defence Force continues to tell them they don't deserve a pay rise.
"Civilian staff feed our soldiers, sailors and air force crews and ensure they're equipped to carry out their front line duties."
The civilian staff have asked for a three-year collective agreement with a $1500 lump sum payment from July 1 this year and then two 5 per cent pay rises -- one in the second, and the other in the third year of the agreement.
Mr Wagstaff said the Defence Force was running an anti-union campaign and offering new staff, non-union, individual agreements.
"These have a higher starting salary than the PSA members receive under their collective agreement.
- NZPA
