Industrial action puts Whanganui justice system at a risk of stopping completely

Teachers will strike for a second time in 2018 this week, but they won't be alone in their industrial action.

Public Service Association (PSA) members at the Ministry of Justice have voted to continue working-to-rule with a new set of bans that could see court operations stop completely.

The bans will be on work involving audio visual links, sentencing, all collection tasks, completing financial assessment hearings and assessments of financial means.

These bans are added to the pre-existing work-to-rule actions that include common breaks during the day and a ban on working overtime until Friday December 7.

Court security officers held a lightning strike last Tuesday and PSA members have announced further bans as they wait for a concrete response from the Ministry of Justice. Photo / Stuart Munro

PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay said, if anything, the situation was deteriorating.

"The current stalemate is occurring because the Ministry has made no concrete response whatsoever on bringing an improved pay offer to the table to enable bargaining to resume.

"This is extremely disappointing and is just adding further to the frustration and anger of our members.

"We will continue to pursue the open discussions needed to reach a settlement before Christmas."

Other bans with high impact are expected to highlight the value of specific occupational groups such as a bailiffs' ban on entering data on fines and civil matters to a Ministry of Justice database.

Court security officers organised a lightning strike outside Whanganui District Court at 10.30am on Tuesday last week, putting a halt to list day proceedings.

The following day, they were joined in strike action by all other PSA members, disrupting sentencing matters and announcing a ban on travelling to other courts.

More work bans are expected to be introduced next week.