Office closed 40 minutes
The Social Welfare Department! in Christchurch closed for 40 minutes yesterday to give its staff a chancel to have a break and a cup of tea. The department’s Public Service Association members began a fiveday strike on Monday to protest against the State Sector Bill. The strike has forced the department to close all its ; area welfare offices land use the Cathedral Square office to provide an emergency service. ! Demand for the service peaked yesterday because lit was payment day fori unemployment and sickness benefits.
The department’s Christchurch I director, Mr Maurice Doocey, said that all available staff were on the icounters. The pressure was particularly high between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.i The staff closed the doors for about 40 minutes during lunchtime so that they could have a break. There were no additional staff available to i replace them, Mr Doocey said. “Our experience was that the bulk of the people were quite understanding of the situation.” The department’s staff are due to return to work on Monday. ||
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Press, 18 March 1988, Page 2
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174Office closed 40 minutes Press, 18 March 1988, Page 2
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