Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Court staff vote to continue industrial action

Updated at 1:10 pm on 7 November 2009

Courts are facing further disruption during the next three months, after staff from the Ministry of Justice voted to continue industrial action.

More than 1800 staff who work in New Zealand's courts and tribunals walked off the job on Friday in a two-hour protest over their pay being frozen. It was the fourth action of its kind in a month.

Court staff have voted for surprise rolling strikes of varying lengths during the next three months.

Taupo barrister Katherine Ewen says the industrial action is having a financial impact on her clients.

Mrs Ewen says clients often have to take the day off work to go to court, so a hearing delayed by industrial action can mean another day off work and the loss of two days' wages.

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