Gender disparity an issue for court staff

A justice chief has slammed a union’s short-notice strike at Rotorua’s District, High and Family courts on Thursday as ‘‘unlawful, unsafe and irresponsible’’.

Chief operating officer Carl Crafar also revealed the ministry has filed an application at the Employment Court to prevent further short-notice strike action by court staff, to be heard on November 5. Crafar revealed the move in the wake of lightning strike action on Thursday in which staff at Rotorua’s District, High and Family Courts walked off the job.

He criticised the PSA’S decision to hold the strike with 30 minutes’ notice and said ‘‘we will do everything we can to protect everyone working in or visiting our courthouses’’.

The walkout, which commenced at 11am for one hour, is part of an ongoing dispute with the Ministry of Justice over pay and conditions.

‘‘We have taken this [Employment Court] action as we feel we have been left with no other choice to ensure the safety of our staff, the public and judiciary,’’ Crafar said.

New Zealand Public Service Association (PSA) union organiser Imogen Gear said the walkout came in the wake of talks with the ministry on Monday that ‘‘didn’t get anywhere’’. ‘‘There is a particular frustration around a lack of bargaining.’’ Gear said gender pay disparity was also a focus of the action. Her comments were echoed by PSA national organiser Brendon Lane who said there was a 15 per cent gender pay gap at the ministry and it was the second lowest paying government ministry.

He also expressed frustration at talks on Monday aimed at ending the dispute, which began back in May. ‘‘We don’t believe the ministry is serious about doing it [ending gender pay disparity],’’ he said.

‘‘We felt we were invited by the ministry [last Monday] because they had an offer. They didn’t.

‘‘The ministry was adamant there’s no more money.’’

He said the union was seeking a 2 per cent across the board pay increase and a new pay scale ‘‘not based on the ministry’s flawed performance pay model’’. Lane said the PSA wanted to see an offer that ‘‘properly values our members’’.

He said more localised lightning strikes would come, and national strikes, and said members would be balloted on work to rule action.

‘‘It’s hugely disruptive and that’s unfortunate,’’ he said.

‘‘[But it’s] poor management on the ministry’s part.’’

However, Crafar said they had been attempting to work with the PSA and had offered pay rises of 3 per cent this year, and 3 per cent next year.

‘‘The ministry has also offered an additional $750 one-off payment to PSA members for 2018,’’ he said.

‘‘The PSA initially presented a pay claim which added up to more than 13 per cent during this period, more than double the ministry’s budget.’’ Crafar also rejected Lane’s claim of a 15 per cent gender pay gap. ‘‘The ministry has a gender pay gap of 13 per cent overall. However, for most of our frontline people, the gender pay gap is 4 per cent in favour of women.’’

‘‘We will do everything we can to protect everyone working in or visiting our courthouses.’’ Ministry of Justice chief operating officer Carl Crafar