"Hey hey, ho ho cheaper pay has got to go."
Those were the chants heard from outside the Rotorua courthouse this morning as about 40 court staff walked off the job.
Different staff members, from managers to frontline, of all Rotorua courts joined the nationwide Public Service Association strike for two hours between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Striking staff wore high-visibility vests, carried placards and waved orange flags as dozens of passing cars tooted in support.
Public Service Association member and group spokeswoman, Paula Davis, said the strike was about gaining a better pay deal from the Ministry of Justice, particularly for female workers.
"We are bargaining for higher pay within the public service. The Ministry of Justice is one of the lowest paid ministries, the third lowest I believe," Davis said.
She said staff wanted to feel more valued and "female dominated jobs to be more valued".
Davis said about 70 per cent of workers at the Rotorua courthouse were female and they were paid on average 15 per cent less than their male co-workers.
"We are fighting to end the gender pay gap which is 15 per cent in the Ministry of Justice, one of the highest, and we are looking to close that gap not make it worse."
The Rotorua courthouse was closed during the strike and Davis hoped the impact would be felt by the Ministry of Justice.
"It's been noted how much work is required to run the courthouse and I hope that is enough for the Ministry to realise our frontline staff should be valued for the work they do.
"We know that what's good for the justice system is good for everybody."
Court registry officer and Public Service Association member, Petera Meroiti, was a part of the strike and said it was all about gaining fairer pay and fairer working conditions.
Justice Ministry chief executive Andrew Bridgman earlier said bargaining on a new employment contract with the Public Service Association would be ongoing for several months.
"The Ministry has offered a 5 per cent increase over two years, in line with other agreements in the public sector, but the Public Service Association is seeking more than 13 per cent.
Bridgman said the Ministry remained "open and committed" to settling.
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