Courts struck by lightning strikes

Courts across the country have been affected as Ministry of Justice employees ramp up industrial action in an attempt to get better pay.

Yesterday, the Public Service Association announced there would be lightning strikes at 23 courts across the country between 11am and 12pm.

For the first time since industrial action began, staff at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Wellington were also striking.

The most recent strikes were being carried out at courts in both the North and South Island.

The action is in support of a claim for a 11 per cent pay rise over two years.

The Ministry of Justice has a budget of 3 per cent of its annual salary bill for pay increases this year and 3 per cent for next year.

The ministry has also offered an additional $750 one-off payment to PSA members for 2018.

The strike action has caused huge delays throughout the country, with many cases being adjourned continuously.

The Law Society said an assault at the Christchurch District Court last week ‘‘was a direct result’’ of the the unresolved collective bargaining.

This was because the defendant, who has gang connections, was unable to appear via Audio Visual Link due to the strikes, and was brought into court. This led to some people trying to charge him when in the dock.

Chief Judge Jan-Marie Doogue last week said she wanted to reassure the public judges were ‘‘doing their best’’ to spare people from disruption and distress.

Doogue said the dispute was beyond judges’ control, but all District Court judges had a duty to continue to dispense justice for the public, especially those whose fundamental human rights are affected or who are seeking the urgent protection of the court.