Manager Delay Means Further Disruption Of Courts

“Christchurch District Court NUPE members took strike action today to get the Ministry of Justice to the negotiating table early in the New Year,” said John Kerr, Organiser with the National Union of Public Employees.

“Early in December the Ministry announced it was unlikely they would be able to meet NUPE until March 2004 for the purpose of collective bargaining. NUPE members stopped work in protest this morning but later agreed to go back to work after the Ministry agreed to a telephone conference this afternoon,” said John Kerr.

“Sadly the conversation we had with the Ministry this afternoon did not settle the outstanding issue,” said NUPE Organiser John Kerr. “The Ministry is refusing to meet with us until 11 February and members have had their initial hopes dashed.”

“The Ministry is saying they cannot meet because key people are on leave. We are saying that we cannot guarantee there will not be further industrial action over the holiday period if they are going to stick to that position”

“All our members want is for the Ministry to listen to them. We accept that this is a busy time for managers but need to meet in January to settle these negotiations” said Mr Kerr.

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