Member Reece Hancock is a Field Officer on road maintenance at Upper Hunter Shire Council, however since April 2021, Reece has been working as an acting Medium Plant Operator. This requires Reece to operate a tractor and slasher on the busy Golden Highway and surrounds of Merriwa to maintain the grass verges on the roadsides.
For much of this time, the Council chose not to pay Reece at the appropriate higher rate, as his field officer pay was higher than an entry level medium plant operator due to compression of the pay steps. When asked why he was not being paid as a medium plant operator, the Council replied that he would need to have his medium rigid truck licence to warrant them paying him higher. However, his attempts to get his truck licence were repeatedly delayed by Council.
Reece decided to discuss these issues with his local USU delegate Andrew Collins who referred the matter to his USU Organiser Stuart Stark, and the grievance process was soon followed. Some low-level discussions took place with some concessions; however no higher duties payment or back pay could be agreed on at this point.
The matter was referred to the USU’s Northern Industrial Officer Noel Martin who had the dispute lodged in the NSW IRC. Before proceedings could take place, Council representatives met with USU Officials, Mr Martin and Mr Stark, where an agreement was made to pay Reece at a higher rate and backpay him, and the matter would be withdrawn by the USU.
USU member Reece has now been back paid, is receiving a higher rate for his higher-grade work and is booked in to go through the process of getting his truck licence. This is a great win for Reece and an example of what our Union can achieve on behalf of our USU members who are being asked to step up but are not being properly compensated for it.
