Wheels of justice keep turning despite striking staff

4:00pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in News

Wheels of justice keep turning despite striking staff Wheels of justice keep turning despite striking staff

Criminals were being sentenced and trials conducted at Kingston Crown Court as the remaining staff attempted to keep the wheels of justice turning.

A message on the court's reception desk said it was endeavouring to ensure a normal service.

It said: "Efforts will focus on maintaining essential services however some routine work may be subject to delay."

Outside the court, clerk Maria Christophy, on a picket line for the first time in her 11 year career, feared pensions would be the start.

She said: "I'm very worried about the future."

Only one courtroom was fully closed, although the number of cases was reduced, as many ushers and clerks were on strike.

Inside one courtroom, Judge Georgina Kent told a jury: "We have a court clerk and an usher today. That is more than most courts are getting."

Magistrates' courts at Richmond, Battersea and Balham were closed, with cases only being heard at Wimbledon.

Comments(11)

chris_pcfc says...
5:54pm Wed 30 Nov 11

However, as people should note from looking at today's Court list, apart from the 8 part heard trials listed today, there were only 2 fresh trials listed to start! Furthermore, there were only 6 other cases listed for mention whereas on a usual day there would be at least 20+! Finally, as where this report states that there was only 1 courtroom closed, there were in fact 2!!

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fedup58 says...
11:16am Thu 1 Dec 11

Congratulations to those people who did turn up for work, its is heartening to know that there are some people who still have a sense of duty. May I suggest that if it worked well perhaps you could look at staff cut backs.

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chris_pcfc says...
6:51pm Thu 1 Dec 11

Thankyou for you contribution 'Fedup 58'. May I ask whether you work in the Public or Private Sector? I myself have worked for the Public Sector for over 30 years. I have not worked that long, only to be told that I will now have to pay an extra (circa) £100 per month towards my pension, work for several years more and then get a total pension fund reduced by £20K

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fedup58 says...
10:28am Fri 2 Dec 11

Dear Chris_pcfc welcome to the real world what on earth do you think the rest of us are having to do. For very fortunate that you have been employed for 30 years and able to contribute to a pension what a noce secure life u have had and guess I work in the Private Sector have never claimed benefits even when unemployed.

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admin@kingstoncrowncourt.com says...
7:54pm Fri 2 Dec 11

Corrections:
Three courts failed to sit (not 1 nor 2).
Most courts were staffed by atleast one clerk or one usher during part of the sessions.
Both clerks and ushers were pleased to enjoy the extra exercise due to problematic lifts as they practised for the coming marathon season by racing each other from floor to floor.
Admittedly the court was quieter than normal due to the obvious falling crime rate.

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BorisJohnson says...
11:30pm Fri 2 Dec 11

fedup58, whether you like it or not, the public and private sector depend on each other. Please don't assume those in the public sector work less hard than those in the private sector, I've seen both sides of the coin and there are faults in both. Most people in the criminal justice system from police to CPS to probation to court staff work hard and care about what they do. Fact is rather than cut public sector pensions, efforts should be made to improve private sector ones. The public sector pensions were the compensation for wages that are considerably lower than the private sector. No one seriously denies we should all work longer- but to be paid less, made to contribute much more, for a pension that will be worth much less, not to cover the cost of something that is less than 2% of this country's annual GDP and is falling year on year, but to pay off a deficit caused by greedy, criminal bankers is insulting.

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fedup58 says...
11:41am Sat 3 Dec 11

I think you are missing the point here Boris the Private Sector do not enjoy any guarantees re wage increases for cost of living pensions linked to any indexes for guaranteed rises. We pay our taxes and our NI and at the end of the day if we have been able to afford paying into a pension we might get a bit extra over the state pension which is an absolute insult to hard working people of this country. When you are not forcing our pensioners to have to decide between heating or food then come and talk to me but until the divide is fairer go back to your ivory tower and stay warm.

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fedup58 says...
11:41am Sat 3 Dec 11

I think you are missing the point here Boris the Private Sector do not enjoy any guarantees re wage increases for cost of living pensions linked to any indexes for guaranteed rises. We pay our taxes and our NI and at the end of the day if we have been able to afford paying into a pension we might get a bit extra over the state pension which is an absolute insult to hard working people of this country. When you are not forcing our pensioners to have to decide between heating or food then come and talk to me but until the divide is fairer go back to your ivory tower and stay warm.

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BorisJohnson says...
6:57pm Sat 3 Dec 11

I think you might be missing the point Fedup58. Why do we always have to level things down so the hard working people in both the private and public sector are all worse off, while the tax evaders at the top live off us all. The public sector is taking a 10% pay cut effectively, certainly no increases amongst the rank and file, all the way from the armed forces to the people who look after pensioners in their home. It's sad that you see it in terms of them and us when in fact it is the government propping up the banks with taxpayers money (which, like it or not, public sector workers are too), spending on ridiculous items like Trident (whilst making soldiers, sailors and airmen redundant) and spending ever more money on unemployment benefits adding to the numbers of young and old people who have no jobs. Anyone in the criminal justice system, even judges, don't live in ivory towers, given what they see on a day to day basis. For the sake of my parents I'm glad the state pension is being raised a bit more because their private pensions came to nothing. So it really makes me quite angry when the knee jerk response is let's all suffer together, rather than try to make it better for everyone. That's what I want for my children and I hope others do too.

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fedup58 says...
11:19am Sun 4 Dec 11

If you think the Public Sector is making it better for everyone but striking you are living in la la land. Families have suffered, people waiting for operations have seen delays, the list is too large. When the Public sector is bought into having to work the same hours and I mean work not lounge around in endless meetings that get nothing done but keep the tea and coffee imports up, then you might get some sympathy but they have had it to good for too long now they have to join the rest of us in working for a living. The armed forces deserve every penny they are paid they put their lives on the line for all of us and if I had a choice between an increase for Teachers or the armed forces I know were my vote would go.

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BorisJohnson says...
10:48pm Tue 6 Dec 11

A one day strike caused people to have their operations delayed significantly? What about the cuts? The basic argument is anyone who strikes is a traitor I would guess? The fire and ambulance service risk their lives too but on your argument they are both causing people suffering and yet like apparently all public sector workers drinking tea and coffee all day (I would personally love to work in this idyllic place of which you write)? False choice really. The armed services are being betrayed by the redundancies they are suffering so I'm not sure where that leaves your vote? Fact is most people in this country who are in employment work for a living, a small minority in both public AND private sectors do have endless meetings whilst the rest of us work- they're called managers and consultants. If you've worked in both the public and private sector like me, then you have a basis for your argument possibly, because the public sector of 30-40 years ago is a different animal to what it is today. But if it's the divide and conquer line that the likes of the Daily Mail preach you're following, that's just sad. This country should treat its young people well by valuing education, ensure pensioners are looked after in a decent way and not be making people who have served this country bravely, redundant. All affordable if like I said, ridiculous items like Trident are cut. Anyway, time to get a cup of tea...

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