The similarity of ancient ancestors is sufficient to preserve many common anatomical and behavioural similarities across both groups (tool-use, social structures, investment in care of infants).

The evolutionary theory explains why the human body has a host of ‘design mistakes’. For instance, the appendix is a vestigial organ that marks a stage in our evolution when early hominids were entirely vegetarian. It seems unnecessarily vindictive to design a human to include an organ whose only function is to randomly get infected, burst, and inflict a painful death due to peritonitis on its host.

You may well have experienced disruption in the courts in the past three months due to industrial action by PSA members. I am writing to let you know why this action is taking place.

Pay for Ministry of Justice staff is below that of workers doing equivalent jobs in the public service and private sector. On average Ministry pay rates are 6.3% behind the public service pay median. A large group of the Ministry’s staff, some 1200 workers, are paid nearly 10% below the public service median. The PSA believes the Ministry’s pay setting system contributes to this situation.

The PSA has told the Ministry we recognise they are operating under tight financial constraints. We have said we would agree to a modest pay increases for PSA members this year and next year. We have also said we would work with the Ministry on improving systems and processes to enhance productivity and service delivery and that negotiation of future increases to close the pay gap would be based on productivity gains.

We do not think the gap between the parties is that great but bridging it requires a commitment to find a mutually acceptable outcome in bargaining.

If we are still in dispute, the PSA is planning a peaceful rally on January 18 to coincide with the Supreme Court opening. Stoppages and disruption within the Ministry will continue until we can achieve a fair and sustainable settlement.

We have received messages of support from some lawyers and legal organisations such as the Criminal Bar Association and the Auckland District Law Society. We have also received more tangible forms of support for PSA members taking strike action. We greatly appreciate this support.

In our effort to find a solution to this dispute, we are asking for further support.

We are respectfully asking that you send a message to the Ministry’s chief executive, Belinda Clark, expressing concern at the current disruption and calling for best efforts towards a speedy resolution. Her email address is Belinda.Clark@justice.govt.nz A message along these lines would be very welcome.

To express your support to PSA members, feel free to email us at JusticeForUs@psa.org.nz and we will pass on messages to them. If you require further information on the dispute re you can go to http://www.psa.org.nz or contact us by phone on 0508 367 772.
Yours sincerely

Brenda Pilott
PSA National Secretary

Needless to say I won’t be supporting them- after all, we legal aid providers got our pay cut and there was not a word of support for us from the PSA!

And what is the alternative explanation from those who do understand evolution? That apes were not evolutionary forebears of homo sapiens?

Second, the atheist argument is fundamentally flawed when pointing the finger at apes and monkeys while at the same time believing humans are descended from them.

Your argument is fundamentally flawed – no one who understands evolution believes that. It is just those who don’t want to understand evolution that bring up the humans are descended from apes and monkeys thing.

Second, the atheist argument is fundamentally flawed when pointing the finger at apes and monkeys while at the same time believing humans are descended from them. Look who’s doing the thinking now!

Third, society will never truly experience a ‘national’ will when only two cultures enjoy society’s wealth while all other cultures are excluded. National has turned socialist liberal in allied with a far left radical party to represent a global agenda. These global and monetary policies only favour private investers at the expense of mass employment. At the same time, social policies will drive the social consequences to impact upon the prison population, and the usual alcohol, drugs, violence and crime statistics.

And finally, the market will not improve when depended on a poor consumer class. This is exactly the same mistake made by labour under the mechanisms of the same socialist economy.

Stiff bikkies.

We made budget and got nothing. What is their justification?

But Key and English at the same time were saying “borrow more” like some Witches of Eastwick.

But there is money for Ministers housing allowances to become an unaudited flat rate for all!

Couldn’t agree with you more. Ireland is similar to NZ, both in population size and until recently, our economies. Granted, the Irish had a bigger bubble burst, but they are definitely leading the way when it comes to keeping the public sector roustabouts in check.

Those in the public service over there are bloody thankful they are getting pay cuts and not pink slips. A mate who is living over there with a highly transportable qualification cannot find a (private sector) job. And this is after nearly six months of looking!

Suck it up Unions – you could have it so much worse!

What about adding the comparison for the last 4 – 9 years. Its a lot worse than this.
No reason at all why Govt. can’t prune out a lot of useless quango’s etc.
Talking of which I see the useless wanker De Bris had to have his say about the Nazi uniforms and how much they offended everyone. His outfit should be first to go along with Broadcasting Standards , Womens affairs et al.

If we couldn’t save 250 mil a week there would be something wrong with us.

National promised not to decrease public jobs… they didnt say they wouldnt fuck with their pay though. i want to see something brutal!

In short, a guaranteed income is worth a lot more than an income that can go up or down week by week and year by year, hence the pay of public servants should be at a discount to private sector pay.

I agree with Redbaiter that the best options for the NZ budget is the elimination of whole departments that cannot justify their existence. There should be NO GOVT SPENDING INCREASE. The borrowing should stop — just balance the books.

I have not had a pay rise for 2 years. I don’t want my taxes going to rises for public servants, or other bludgers.

I’d not only fire the bastards but enforce a percentage pay-back demand for each and every one of them who could not justify their salary (showing productivity, results and effect) for the last five years.