Almost 100 fisheries officers across the country, including in Otago and Southland, have delivered a strike notice after a breakdown in bargaining with employer the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Nationally, from September 1, 96 fisheries officers will not undertake weekend patrols.
National Union of Public Employees secretary Janice Gemmell said strike notices were issued on Thursday, after the latest round of year-long talks failed last week.
``MPI confirmed its position that every day is the same and that there would be no payment for weekend work,'' Mrs Gemmell said.
She said while the officers had previously done weekend work in the past, MPI had now delivered a ``clear expectation'' that 20%, or one day a week, was expected to be weekend work.
``Because of the anti-social hours officers want some recognition from MPI.''
NUPA and MPI were negotiating to go into mediation and Mrs Gemmell hoped an agreement could be reached before the strike deadline came into effect.
``Officers will continue to attend to office work, however they will not be available for patrol,'' Mrs Gemmell said.
