Friday June 1, 2007

Prison Unit Managers Vote To Call Off Industrial Action

Prison unit managers have voted to call off industrial action that was due to begin on Thursday next week.(June 7)

The unit managers, who are members of the PSA, served notice of industrial action last week. This was because the Corrections Department has cut their pay by $4500 a year, by axing a muster allowance that was being paid because of a huge increase in inmates.

“The unit managers have voted to call off their industrial action because the Corrections Department has acknowledged that their pay issue needs to be addressed,” says PSA organiser, Alan Ware.

The acknowledgement was made during a mediation hearing involving the PSA and the Corrections Department in Wellington.

“The department said that it was sympathetic towards the unit managers on the issue of their pay,” says Alan Ware.

“It also acknowledged that they had a strong case for a pay rise because their jobs have become bigger and more complex.”

“As a result the union recommended that the unit managers withdraw their notice of industrial action and they’ve voted overwhelmingly to accept the recommendation,” says Alan Ware.

The mediation also established a process, which the PSA and Corrections Department will now follow, to address the unit managers’ pay issue.

This will involve reviewing the work unit managers do, establishing a reasonable pay level for the job and ensuring money is made available to fund the new salaries. It was also agreed that a collective agreement be established for the unit managers who are currently on individual agreements.

“The unit managers have endorsed this process, agreed between the PSA and Corrections, and are pleased with the outcome of the mediation,” says Alan Ware

ENDS

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