Weather forecasters and environment scientists from National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) will strike on Thursday saying management has "backed them into a corner".

Workers from NIWA will walk off the job across New Zealand between 1pm and 3pm on November 21 and spend the time picking up litter at beaches, parks and rivers near their workplaces.

Brett Denham from the Public Services Association (PSA), which represents the workers said the strike was about "respect in the workplace, not pay".

Denham said workers had accepts NIWA's 2 per cent pay offer, but workers and NIWA had failed to agree on overtime pay despite 16 months of bargaining.

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This would be the first industrial action taken by Crown Research Institute employees since they were created in 1992, he said.

"With the threat of climate change looming over our planet and growing community concern about our freshwater, coasts and oceans, it's hard to understand why NIWA are being so belligerent," said Denham.

"Our members work at the forefront of some of the most critical environmental issues facing the planet and are recognised as international experts in their fields. They would rather focus on research than be forced into going on strike."

Industrial action was narrowly averted over similar points of contention two years ago, he said.

The Crown Research Institute was refusing to allow overtime compensation to some staff working unsociable hours in excess of contracted obligations, which relates to them frequently having to travel for their jobs but not be compensated for the time spent travelling.

There was also disagreement around flexible working arrangements, Denham said.

Some union members felt targeted and discriminated against in the workplace, he said.

"For some reason the people running NIWA are determined to start an industrial conflict with their own science staff, and we can only assume this is motivated by outdated anti-union ideology and a desire to undermine the collective agreement in favour of individual contracts," said Denham.

"From our perspective it's totally unnecessary and we want to sign a deal, but our members are determined to stand up for their rights if that's what it takes."

NIWA chief executive John Morgan said NIWA had immense respect for all its staff, irrespective of the employment agreement they chose, and was proud of the employment packages it offers them.

"As a general rule, NIWA does not discuss employment issues publicly," he said.



"Apart from the already agreed increase to pay rates, NIWA is not seeking any changes to the current terms and conditions of the collective employment agreement."

