Sheriffs in NSW courts say their calls for improved pay and working conditions have been ignored for two years as their union disregarded orders not to take industrial action.
The Public Service Association (PSA) and the Department of Communities and Justice were locked in a series of compulsory consultations, conciliation and arbitration in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on Wednesday.
Senior Commissioner Nichola Constant ordered the industrial action planned on Thursday not go ahead.
"The (union) ... must immediately cease organising and refrain from taking industrial action ... being the full-day stop work industrial action," she said.
The department told AAP it found out about the planned industrial action on Tuesday night, before lodging the urgent dispute in the IRC.
"The (union) did not comply with this order and proceeded with the stoppage," a department spokesman said in a statement.
The union was also ordered to prominently post on social media and email all sheriff members to comply with the commission's orders by not taking the industrial action.
A press conference featuring PSA general secretary Stewart Little and sheriffs walking off the job streamed live on the union's Facebook page on Thursday from outside Sydney's Downing Centre.
The impact on regional courts was evident in the NSW central west town of Orange, where matters were heard via audiovisual link, with members of the public denied entry on Thursday.
Mr Little earlier told AAP sheriffs' duties had increased significantly in the past decade, while their working environment had become increasingly unsafe.
"Wage negotiations have completely broken down after two years," he said.
Sheriffs had been equipped with pepper spray, ballistics vests and batons due to increased risk, he said.
"We've seen a marked increase in the number of arrests, interventions and use of force by the sheriffs over the past decade," he said.
The state government's June budget provided for a 10.5 per cent pay rise over three years as a baseline offer to public sector workers, many of whom are seeking significantly more following deals for teachers and paramedics.
In another decision regarding numerous disputes on Thursday, the commission ordered the parties to work things out.
"The crux of the disputes is over the parties’ different positions on increases to remuneration," IRC vice president Justice David Chin said on Thursday.
He recommended the multiple disputes be resolved by varying awards to provide for interim increases to salaries and allowances for one year, from July 1.
He ordered senior representatives of the union and department secretaries to urgently meet and look for a solution, before bringing them back on Wednesday.
