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Check this page regularly for the latest information and updates on the bargaining common to both agreements.
More support from from lawyers
The PSA wrote to lawyers updating them on the dispute and asking for their support . We also asked them to write to Belinda Clark expressing their concern about the Ministry’s failure to try to reach a fair settlement. The responses poured in. Here are some typical remarks:
“The staff I have dealt with as a criminal barrister for over 20 years do an excellent job…I hope these negotiations can be satisfactory concluded sooner rather than later.”
“It’s disappointing that the strike continues with no recognition from the Government of the hard work that these people do and their expectations being that they receive pay parity, that is nothing greater than other state servants receive!”
“The obvious disregard for their efforts is highlighted in the apparent lack of willingness from those in authority, such as yourself, to listen to their claims for equitable pay. It is certainly time to bring the industrial action to an end.”
Go here to read all the support you’ve received for your campaign.
Ministry misinformation
In her response to the lawyers’ letters Belinda Clark claimed that the PSA was misleading lawyers and the public . She wrote:“We have made 2 offers, one in Oct and one in Nov last year which the PSA has not presented to members to vote on. In fact some members do not even know we made them.”
The PSA immediately wrote to Belinda Clark, advising her that the statement could be regarded as a breach of good faith because it was totally incorrect. We wrote:
“In November last year we provided a summary of your offer to our members with a link to our website for the full details of your offer.
Three weeks ago we held 3 hour members meetings around the country, provided the attached document and we workshopped the bargaining position to ensure all members understood your offer and had their say.”
Justice workers strike nationwide as part of escalating campaign
Ministry of Justice staff at courts, tribunals and other Ministry worksites throughout the country walked off the job on Monday 1 March and went on strike for 23 hours.
Read on. See the latest media coverage
here..
Employment Court rules Ministry of Justice should resume negotiations
An Employment Court judge has ruled that pay negotiations between the Ministry of Justice and the Public Service Association are not over and should resume.
More. Read the full judgement here.
Rally outside Supreme Court
Around 100 Ministry of Justice workers and other unionists held a rally at the opening of the new Supreme Court on January 18. A group of around 30 Ministry of Justice workers stood among the crowd on Lambton Quay by the main entrance to the new court building. Another 70 stood on Whitmore Street on the northern side of the new courthouse. They carried placards and made their presence felt with loud chants during Prince William's walkabout. The rally attracted wide media attention and was reported in UK newspapers. See the TVNZ coverage here. Read the latest newspaper clippings on the campaign here. See pictures on Flickr here. PSA media releases are here and here.
Meanwhile industrial action was taken in many parts of the country. The picture below shows workers outside the District Court in Christchurch.
Lawyers support industrial action
Lawyers across the country have come out in support of the industrial action taken by court workers. Here's what one lawyer had to say: " You all do a fantastic job. We greatly appreciate the professionalism and hard work we see members demonstrate every day, year in year out. Your actions are fully justified and we would like to see you paid appropriately for the commitment, good humour under difficult conditions, and the skill and care in which the work is carried out." Read more..
Strikes continue
Kaikohe District Court staff, pictured here during an earlier stoppage, walked out for the whole day on December 21. Whangarei District Court also staged two stoppages on the same day, and on December 22 walked off the job at 2.00pm for the rest of the day.
Get back to bargaining, Ministry told
The Ministry needs to get back to the bargaining table, PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff told MOJ workers at the rally in Wellington on December 10. See video below.
National delegate Fred Hayward speaking at the "Lift the Freeze" low pay rally in Wellington.
Newspaper coverage(20 Nov- 1 Dec)
Newspaper coverage(16-24 Nov)
Lawyer's statement of support for industrial action taken by Ministry of Justice employees sent to Belinda Clark
Join Us: a letter to those not taking industrial action.
Letter to Tony Fisher- General Manager- Courts, 29 October
PSA corrects advice given to staff by HR manager
PSA Comment on the Ministry of Justice Offer - 15 October
Ministry of Justice/PSA Proposed Settlement Package - 12 October
Statement from Belinda Clark, Chief Executive and Secretary for Justice
Criminal Bar Association supports striking MOJ workers:
The first full-day strike of Ministry of Justice was widely reported in the media. Access the stories here:
Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint
TV One
TV3
Newspaper coverage
Below: workers at the Auckland High Court ignore the rain to alert the public to lack of pay fairness for Ministry of Justice staff.
PSA Ministry of Justice staff outside the court in Manukau.
See TV coverage of the national stopwork - TV1 and TV3.
Walk the chalk
Justice staff at the contact centre in Wellington highlight their campaign for wage justice with this message: "Proper pay for solid work. Justice system not fair".
Click here to enlarge.
Hastings Court staff protest
About 30 Hastings court staff protested outside of the new Hastings Courthouse yesterday shortly before it was officially opened by Justice Minister Simon Power. Staff from the Hastings District Court and Maori Land Court, based in Hastings, waved placards and chanted, ``MOJ (Ministry of Justice] - Why won't you pay?'' Read the Hawkes Bay Today report here
Ministry of Justice workers protest in Christchurch
See more pictures
Misleading communication by the Ministry to staff
The PSA has responded to a memorandum sent out to Team Leaders and Managers on 13 October 2009 – see the letter sent to Tony Fisher by the PSA Solicitor.
In the News
See National Secretary Richard Wagstaff on TV3's Sunrise programme, talking about the MOJ claim. Go here.
Industrial action to start tomorrow
The PSA and the Ministry of Justice bargaining teams for both the staff and the manager/team leader collective agreements met in mediation yesterday.
The Ministry did not make an offer on our claim for a fair pay system and there is no commitment to catch up pay to the public sector median. An offer was made, but it did not address the two central issues in our bargaining brief.
More detail on this will be made available as soon as possible. Accordingly, as no substantive offer was made to meet our bargaining brief, industrial action as endorsed by members over the last two weeks will start tomorrow – Wednesday 14 October.
Overwhelming vote for industrial action
PSA members at the Ministry of Justice have voted decisively in favour of industrial action as part of the campaign for fair pay. All ballots have now been held, with separate ballots for the two collective agreements: Staff; and Managers and Team Leaders.
Staff ballot
1420 members with 1046 votes received = 74% response Support resolution for industrial action: 989 = 94.5% Reject resolution for industrial action: 57 = 5.4%
Managers and Team Leaders’ ballot
246 members with 91 votes received = 37% response Support resolution for industrial action: 75 = 82.4% Reject resolution for industrial action: 16 =17.6%
What happens next
Mediation
Both PSA bargaining teams will go to Mediation on Monday 12 October. If the Ministry refuses to respond to our bargaining brief with a substantive offer, our plan of industrial action will start on Wednesday 14 October. This is the clear mandate from members. We will report to you on the results of the Mediation and exactly what steps we will be taking if we go ahead with industrial action. Briefly what the PSA is seeking:
• A new pay system based on salary scales with pay steps and progression criteria based on satisfactory performance. The pay scales and agreed pay increases (effective during the term) to be included in the body of the collective agreement.
• A pay “catch up” to bring pay in the Ministry up to the public sector market median