17 December 2012

Ministry For Primary Industries Staff Call Off Industrial Action

PSA members at the Ministry for Primary Industries have called off planned industrial action this week after agreement was reached to return to the negotiating table.

Three hour stop work meetings had been planned on 19 December involving biosecurity and border staff at airports and ports around the country along with fisheries, forestry, food safety and MPI office staff.

Following mediation, it has been agreed that collective agreement negotiations will resume in the New Year.

“A lot of positive progress has been made and MPI is now showing a commitment to address the issues of concern to our members,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“We are still seeking to get an across-the-board pay increase for all members and to discuss proposals around sick leave and long service leave. It has also been agreed with MPI that a joint forum will be established to explore issues around hours of work and rosters.”

“It’s good to see willingness from both parties to try and resolve these issues as part of the process of getting agreement on a fair and final settlement,” she says.

Instead of stop work meetings PSA members will now be holding one hour paid meetings in their workplaces to discuss the developments and continue talking about the issues.

ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>