Staff pay protest may delay courts

11:13am Tuesday 9th January 2007

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A PROTEST by legal staff could lead to court chaos.

Courts in Dartford could be severely delayed after more than 50 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) started a work-to-rule policy.

Since December 18, clerks, ushers and legal advisors have only been working the hours they are paid for and are not doing any overtime.

The move is affecting Dartford Magistrates' Court in Highfield Road and Dartford County Court in Home Gardens.

Although there have been no major disruptions yet, it could lead to a backlog of cases and people remaining in the cells for longer than usual.

Union members are hoping to increase the three per cent pay rise offered to four-and-a-half per cent.

Despite having permission from the Treasury to give workers the bigger pay increase, The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has not yet done so.

Kent PCS representative Geoff Lyus said: "We just want to let them know they can't get away with not paying us a reasonable amount.

"We are all going to work our normal hours instead of staying behind and doing extra bits of work here and there."

Mr Lyus says the courts will start to see a big difference with staff only working their contracted 36 hours per week.

He added: "You won't see much of a difference straight away, but after a couple of months, there will be a huge backlog.

"We are not being greedy. We are just asking to be paid for the important jobs we do."

A DCA spokesman said: "We have to work within financial constraints.

"We are open to further discussion with the PCS and do not believe a strike will solve anything.

"I do not know what it is going to achieve. We think it is a fair offer."

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Court Service said: "We hope there will be minimal disruption to our services."