Action by PSA staff affects courts

A sign at the entrance to the Dunedin District Court. Photo: Rob Kidd
A sign at the entrance to the Dunedin District Court. Photo: Rob Kidd
Court sittings could be disrupted for a month as staff fight for equity and increased pay.

There were protests in Dunedin and outside other courts around the country this week as Public Service Association (PSA) union members went on strike for two hours on Wednesday.

The action continued yesterday as the Dunedin District Court sat for less than half its usual time.

The decision to strike came after negotiations with the Ministry of Justice reached a stalemate recently.

"Workers are seeking an outcome that values all staff and ensures they are reasonably paid," PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay said.

"We are also battling to ensure that the gender pay gap is reduced, not increased. At the ministry it is far too high already, at 15%, and that must come down - and fast."

The PSA said discussions with the ministry would continue this week but until matters were resolved there would be "partial action" until October 19.

That entailed a ban on overtime, working contracted hours and ensuring at least two 10-minute breaks were taken during the day, with an hour for lunch.

At the Dunedin District Court, the public were locked out of court during three periods during the day, for a total of three hours, 20 minutes.

A sign was affixed to the entrance noting the closures, simply explaining it was "due to industrial action".

It meant the court sat for only two hours, 20 minutes when it usually ran for five hours, 15 minutes.

The PSA could not explain the extended court closures.

The Ministry of Justice's acting group manager of courts and tribunals Renee Smith said the court had been closed to reflect union break times.

PSA's organiser in the south Scott Taylor said the industrial action had already made an impact.

"We just wanted to send a message to the ministry but probably more so to the Government to intervene. The Labour-led Government campaigned on hope and closing the gender equality gap."

The ministry has offered a 5% pay increase over two years.

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