This is the fourth member update in our series on the negotiations for the Local Government (State) Award 2023.

Local Government NSW, on behalf of your Council, wants to CUT your ordinary pay which will result in your pay being slashed when you access your leave entitlements.

Item 3 on the Employer’s Log of Claims for the new Award says:

“Amend the definition of “Ordinary Pay” by deleting “on-call allowance” and “adverse working conditions allowance” from the composition of ordinary pay.

Why is Ordinary Pay Important?

Currently, when you access your leave entitlements such as annual or sick leave, you are entitled to receive the following regularly received penalties and allowances which form part of your ordinary pay.

  • Saturday, Sunday and shift penalties
  • Hours of work flexibility agreements allowances
  • Adverse working conditions allowances
  • Climatic, west of the line allowances
  • Civil liability allowance
  • Tool allowances
  • On call allowance
  • First aid allowance
  • Community language and signing work allowances

The effect of this employer attack – An Example

On current Award rates, a member who receives a level 1 adverse working conditions allowance and an on-call allowance would see their pay CUT by a staggering $208.30 while accessing 1 week of sick leave.

AN OUTRAGEOUS ATTACK

In the current climate of raging inflation, this is an outrageous attack on your current leave entitlements and take-home pay.

Instead of addressing the current plight of workers in the inflation crisis and improving wages, employers are just focused on CUTTING your take-home pay.

Furthermore, it would push workers to consider not accessing sick leave, due to the cut in wages under this proposal.

Considering the never-ending COVID-19 public health crisis, forcing workers to not access entitlements is unsafe and reckless.

The USU will not accept these attacks. The USU is the voice of all workers to improve and protect your Award entitlements.

Join the USU today if you want to:

  • protect and improve your working conditions in local government
  • protect your current take-home pay
  • ensure you are not taking a pay cut to access your leave entitlements

The USU conducts around 350 mass meetings of MEMBERS ONLY across NSW to vote on the new NSW Local Government State Award.

IT’S EASY TO JOIN
NON MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE USU & JOIN WITH US IN OUR FIGHT TO RETAIN AND IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS AND WAGES IN THE 2023- 2026 AWARD.