The estimated cost of pay increases for some court staff has baffled the Public Service Association union.
Members of the PSA at Tauranga Court House could launch further ‘surprise' strikes this week.
The union and the Ministry of Justice are still at loggerheads over pay increase demands.
The ministry has estimated the PSA's demands will cost in excess of $100m over three years.
But PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff says the union cannot account for the ministry's sums.
'We only represent 2000 members and based on their figures that would amount to $50,000 per member. The estimates are completely wrong,” says Richard.


PSA members employed at the Tauranga Court House could continue ‘surprise' strikes this week.

The ministry has announced it is keen to return to mediation with the PSA to resolve the breakdown in collective bargaining.
Ministry general manager of higher courts, Andrew Hampton, says the ministry has always been prepared to resume bargaining and mediation is a good forum for that to occur.
'Mediation is in everybody's interest. Clearly there is more to talk about and the best way to make progress is to get back around the table,” says Andrew.
The Ministry requires industrial action to cease before mediation takes place.
'We would welcome engaging with the PSA and returning our collective focus to delivering first class justice services,” says Andrew.
Richard says the PSA is willing to enter into negotiation but will not cease industrial action before.
'We are up for mediation but let's do some homework of the costs first.
We have done some rough calculations but they are not even half of what the ministry is coming up with,” says Richard.