Traffic officers likely to take action soon

Press, 11 February 1986, Page 8

Traffic officers likely to take action soon

PA Wellington Industrial action by traffic officers is likely next week after a breakdown in wage talks yesterday. A package of suggestions for direct action was being prepared by the officers’ negotiating committee last evening. It will be put to the executive of the Public Service Association tomorrow.

The national secretary of the traffic officers’ subgroup of the P.S.A., Mr John Robson, declined to give details of possible action.

The moves are expected to fall short of strike action. They might include bans on random stopping, or even a complete ban on dealing with drunken drivers. Mr Robson said traffic officers were concerned that extra duties, including random stopping, had

been placed upon them since their last pay adjustment.

If the duties were not going to be recognised at talks, it would have to be decided whether they should continue to be performed.

At yesterday’s wage talks, the State Services Commission offered the 15.5 per cent general adjustment given to all public servants, plus a catchup element of 4 to 5 per cent. Mr Robson said it was not possible to put a percentage figure on the amounts being claimed by traffic officers.

Generally, the officers wanted to maintain parity with police pay scales and improve their position in some areas. The commission’s offer caused the opposite effect.

“Traffic officers will be very angry when they

hear about the talks,” Mr Robson said. Last week P.S.A. officials and traffic officers’ representatives met the Transport Undersecretary, Mr Jeffries, to discuss their concern about increasing assaults.

Mr Jefferies told the officers the Government was keen to improve their public status, Mr Robson said.

“The officers were cheered by that news. But now the Government’s agent, the commission, proposes not to maintain existing wage relativities, but to reduce them.” Mr Robson said the P.S.A. executive would consider tomorrow what period of notice would be given before direct action began. “We are not talking about 14 days notice,” he said. “The action will not be so far away.”