PSA Media Release
December 18, 2009
For Immediate Use

This Release Has Been Corrected

Where’s the pay rise for Ministry of Justice workers?

“If judges can get a pay rise in the current economic climate why, can’t the workers who run their courts?” asks the Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott.

The Remuneration Authority has awarded judges a pay rise of 1.2% to 1.3%. This on top of a 4.8% pay increase judges received a year ago.

This is the first pay determination the authority has made since a law change required it to take account of economic circumstances when setting pay for judges and other groups it covers such as Members of Parliament.

“Judges have a complex and demanding job and we do not begrudge them a pay rise,” says Brenda Pilott.

“But if an independent authority can decide judges deserve a pay rise, it’s unfair workers who run our justice system are being denied a pay increase.”

“It’s unjust that workers at the Ministry of Justice are having to take industrial action to address the fact they’re paid an average of 6.3% less than the rest of the public service.”

“Where is the justice in court workers earning as little as $29,500 being denied a pay rise while judges earning $405,000 are awarded a $5000 pay increase,” says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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