NSW court sheriffs to walk off job on Thursday to protest ’staffing crisis and poor pay’
Sick of playing by the rules, hundreds of court sheriffs across NSW are set to march off the job amid a concerning “staffing crisis” and complaints of unfair pay. Here’s the latest.
Regional News
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Court sheriffs across the state are set to march off the job to protest poor pay rates and a staffing crisis in a “risky” and “stressful” work environment.
The action which the Public Service Association said would “have a severe impact on courts’ ability to function” is due to take place outside Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Tamworth courthouses on Thursday.
Only 44 out of about 170 courts will be affected by the rally.
Stewart Little, general secretary of the union representing the sheriffs, said the workers have been ignored for more than two years and were sick of playing by the rules.
“In mid 2022 there was an agency restructure and the senior leadership of the Office of the Sheriff got a significant pay bump,” he said.
“In 2023 there was a review of sheriffs’ pay but the report was never released under ‘cabinet in confidence’.
‘Sheriffs waited patiently, and were told the matter would be resolved in the 2024 budget, but when it was delivered in mid June nothing happened, and now they’ve been fobbed off again with some other made up bureaucratic process, so Sheriff’s have just had enough.”
Mr Little said sheriffs were “highly trained in what is risky and stressful work”.
“Sheriffs need a solid pay bump to reflect the dangerous work they do, when enforcing court orders they’ll be entering people’s properties wearing stab proof vests, carrying capsicum spray, batons and handcuffs. It’s difficult work,” he said.
“Sheriffs put their lives on the line in courthouses to make sure judges, lawyers and members of the public are safe from crooks and criminals – yet they are paid the same as people with desk jobs and administration roles at the courthouse it’s just not on.”
The union statement states the Office of the Sheriff has “difficulty recruiting and retaining Sheriffs due to the poor pay” and duties have “ballooned” while pay “failed to keep pace”.
Sheriffs, formerly known as sworn uniformed sheriff’s officers, enforce the law and provide court security.
“Sheriffs are a crucial part of law enforcement,” the statement read.
Sheriffs enforce Local, District and Supreme Court orders, as well as those made by the High Court, the Federal Court and Family Court.
They also enforce writs, serve warrants and Property Seizure Orders under the Fines Act 1996.
“Their security duties involve maintaining the security of court complexes, many of which have airport-style perimeter security and scanning to ensure the safety of judges, magistrates, lawyers and the public,” the union added.
More than 300 sheriffs work in more than 170 NSW courthouses.
The Department of Communities and Justice has been contacted for comment.
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