Was there irony across New Zealand's courts after a judge opened the door for justice ministry staff to walk off the job?Chief Employment Court judge Graeme Colgan has forced the department back to the negotiating table after answering an unprecedented qu
Was there irony across New Zealand’s courts after a judge opened the door for justice ministry staff to walk off the job?
Chief Employment Court judge Graeme Colgan has forced the department back to the negotiating table after answering an unprecedented question.
And perhaps just to make a point, Department of Justice staff at courts, tribunals and other ministry worksites throughout New Zealand went on strike for 23-hours until 10am today.
The Public Services Association (PSA) asked the court to determine if the ministry can unilaterally end collective contract bargaining.
Negotiations between the ministry, the PSA and staff in May last year. Since October 14, staff have conducted intermittent and short notice strike action affection court proceedings nationwide.
Central to negotiations is a dispute over pay. PSA members want a collective contract and more money, while the ministry prefers individual contracts and its existing performance pay system.
Judge Colgan said there must be real and significant compromise by both parties to reinvigorate bargaining.
He declared that collective bargaining has not concluded, despite the ministry saying it had.
With that declaration, strike action again became legal – and was exercised for 23 hours from 11am on Monday.
