Union Finds Employer “Guilty”: Legal Aid Staff On Strike Today

At a hearing held last night the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) found the Legal Services Agency (LSA) guilty of failing to adapt to the modern industrial relations environment and of remaining stuck in last century’s Employment Contracts Act mindset.

“Members will be on strike for four hours today and will be mounting a picket at Christchurch District Court. A ‘People’s Judge’ will be announcing the ‘sentence’ to be imposed on the LSA at the picket. The picket will run from 12.15-12.45 p.m.”, said John Kerr.

“LSA staff play a vital role in processing legal aid applications. They are a critical link in the chain that ensures people get access to justice. After being in negotiations with the Legal Services Agency (LSA) for 6 months we have yet to receive any offer on pay”, said NUPE Organiser John Kerr.

“We are surprised that a government agency is taking such a stance at a time when workers are demanding a fairer share of the wealth they have created. With a record surplus in government coffers it is staggering that a crown entity like LSA is making no offer on pay””, said John Kerr

“NUPE represents 25% of the Legal Services Agency staff nationwide and nearly all of their Wellington and Christchurch staff. We represent all of the staff who process legal aid applications for the Waitangi Tribunal, and all of the Invercargill LSA staff ” said John Kerr.

ENDS

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