Prison officers’ wages Work-to-rule begins in Christchurch

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 4

Prison officers’ wages Work-to-rule begins in Christchurch

Prison officers in Christchurch began direct action over their award claims at midnight yesterday. Their demands go beyond those of other prison officers around the country who began their action 24 hours earlier.

The Christchurch officers agreed at a meeting yesterday to continue their action until a conference with a representative from each penal institution in New Zealand is convened in Wellington. The officers also “rejected utterly’’ the award agreed to by the central committee of their sub group of the Public Service Association. Prison officers in other areas who instigated the ■work to rule were only protesting at the refusal of the Government to pay salary increases until the date of the half-yearly survey.

| However, the Christchurch officers say their fellow officers took action without , knowledge of what the award [contained. Yesterday it was learned that the avarage salary increase would be less than 2 per cent and this was not acceptable to the Christchurch officers. They have called for a conference in Wellington to discuss the contents of the award as well as the date it would be implemented. The officers feel cheated at the smallness of the salary rises, despite the comment from

lithe Minister of State Ser- - ; vices (Mr Gordon) who said tjthe rises were up to 12 per 11 cent. I The Christchurch officers 1 j have been asking for realistic - remuneration for positions ! involving responsibility and - have already taken direct i action this year. They say that there is no such provi- ■ sion in the new award. This ■ also would be discussed at > the conference. t i The direct action agreed to ! I in Christchurch was the same ‘las that being taken at other , I institutions around the couni 1 trv.