Traffic officers look at industrial action

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 9

Traffic officers look at industrial action

PA Wellington Possible industrial action by Ministry of Transport traffic officers will be considered today by the Public Service Association’s executive. The traffic officers’ negotiating committee has prepared a package of suggestions for direct action, after the breakdown in wage talks with the State Services Commission on Monday. Traffic officers, who want to maintain parity with police pay scales and improve their position in some other areas, have expressed concern that extra duties, including random stopping, have been placed upon them since their last pay adjustment. The State Services Commission has so far offered the 15.5 per cent general

adjustment given to all public servants plus a 4 to 5 per cent catchup element. Traffic officers and sergeants are paid up to $6ll a week plus overtime, according to a Wellington report. The officers are required to work at nights, week-ends and statutory holidays as part of their ordinary week. They receive overtime if they work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week. A traffic officer straight from training school receives $17,412 a year, or $334 gross a week. Until he is promoted, he does not receive the 32 per cent salary loading paid for working nights, weekends and holidays. Four promotion steps, based on merit, take a traffic officer to top salary of $27,918, or $536 a week. A traffic sergeant receives $27,918 to $29,863, or $536 to $574. A senior

traffic sergeant is paid $30,839 to $31,821, or $593 to $6ll. Above the rank of senior traffic sergeant, officers are not paid the 32 per cent penal loading. A chief traffic officer receives $32,527 to $33,396 ($625 to $642 weekly), a traffic superintendent $33,396 to $34,929 ($642 to $671 a week), an assistant chief superintendent $37,755 to $40,580 ($726 to $780) and a chief superintendent $43,406 to $46,227 ($834 to $888). Motor-cycle officers are paid an allowance of $212 a year, and all officers receive $l5O a year uniform allowance. They are supplied with material for a uniform, but have to pay for the tailoring. As well, the Ministry of Transport supplies shirts, socks, ties, shoes, boots and helmets. The salaries quoted include the 15.5 per cent increase paid to all public servants.