Pay dispute escalates as court staff walk off the job

Ministry of Justice staff joined a nationwide strike yesterday as their pay dispute escalated to a full day's action.

Union members who belong to the Public Service Association stopped work at 10am and stayed away for the rest of the day.

The action disrupted courts around New Zealand as about 1000 staff who collect fines and work at courts and tribunals walked off the job.

Yesterday's action was the fifth for staff since pay talks stalled last month. It was an escalation of previous industrial action which has lasted for only an hour or two, although some court staff are staging local strikes at individual courts by walking off the job for varying lengths of time.

Outside the Auckland and Manukau District Courts yesterday, protesters called on the Government to front up with better pay.

PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said members would not accept being paid less than the rest of the public service.

"Nor will we continue to accept the ministry's unjust pay system that's responsible for their underpayment."

Mr Wagstaff said the day-long strike was evidence of how deep feelings ran with PSA members.

Workers are paid 6.3 per cent below the pay median for the public service, with 1200 court registry officers paid 9.25 per cent below the public service median.

"This action is shutting down court sittings throughout the country and disrupting other Justice services. These workers don't want to inconvenience the public - their pay problems are long-standing ones and they're determined to have them addressed," Mr Wagstaff said.

The Justice Ministry said it remained committed to resolving industrial action.

"We have made a realistic offer to increase staff pay based on performance, rather than time in the job or across-the-board increases not related to performance," ministry general manager higher courts Andrew Hampton said.

"The bottom line is that the ministry cannot afford the current PSA claim. The ministry has made the best offer it can in the current environment, and continues to favour a pay system that rewards performance, not time in the job."

Mr Hampton said the ministry was working hard to minimise the disruption to court users.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate court users' patience and understanding while this is resolved."

Some smaller courts were closed as a result of action in Dargaville, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Huntly, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa, Masterton, and Porirua. additional reporting:

WHAT THEY WANT

*PSA staff want to close the pay gap with other public service workers.
*They say that an average Justice worker will get 6.3 per cent below the median salary for the public service.
*Court registry staff are paid 9.25 per cent below the public service median.
*PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said the union invites the ministry to work with them.
*They're prepared to look at closing the pay gap in stages to make it more affordable.

- NZPA