Wellington, March 22 NZPA - Agreement has been reached in a pay dispute between the Public Service Association and the Ministry of Justice, which disrupted courts over recent months.

The dispute has been going on since October and even led Christchurch District Court Judge Michael Crosbie, earlier this month, to express his frustration at the daily interruptions, telling the court "it is time someone did something about it".

The dispute has involved breaks being taken at unusual times most days, but sometimes staff have walked off the job for the whole day, and sometimes they have protested outside the courthouse and attempted to disrupt proceedings with chanting.

The PSA had argued courts and tribunals staff were paid an average 6.3 percent less than the rest of the public service, and wanted the differential addressed.

Ministry general manager of district courts Tony Fisher had said the ministry was committed to settling a collective employment agreement, but "the economic reality is the ministry cannot agree to a settlement at any cost".

Industrial action by PSA members who work at the Ministry of Justice was suspended when the formal negotiations resumed.

The settlement is subject to ratification by PSA members at the Ministry of Justice.

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