Warrumbungle Shire Council recently informed staff that they were considering implementing a new salary system. Their current salary system has not been reviewed since its amalgamation in 2004.

Changes to the Council’s management team, and growing requests from staff were key triggers to Council committing to reviewing the salary system.

With a Renewable Energy Zone being slated in the council area, suggestions were made that salaries may not be market competitive, further highlighted by several challenges related to attraction and retention.

Their current system was cumbersome to manage, has too many grades compared to the size of council, or very few jobs assigned to a grade. There is also a perception amongst staff that issues of fairness and inequality exist across the organisation, particularly concerning grading decisions.

The new system will see all staff benefit financially with increases in their take home pay. Some will also have the ability to progress through the system further than the old salary system, depending on where they transition across.

A key component of the implementation of a new salary system is the requirement for it to be reviewed in the Consultative Committee as per Clause 34 of the Local Government (State) Award 2023. The aim of Consultative Committees are to;

  • Provide a forum for consultation between the employer and its employees that encourages a free and open exchange of views, and
  • Positively co-operate in workplace reform to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the employer and to provide employees with access to career opportunities and more fulfilling, varied and better paid work.

Consultation breaks down the traditional and old-fashioned barriers between “us and them” in the workplace, recognises the common interests which exist between council and its staff and ensures that the council and its employees can work to a common goal of providing a more effective service to the community, a more efficient operation and greater satisfaction for staff.

The proposed system went to the Consultative Committee (pictured above) recently where some of the finer points and staff questions were discussed. Council will now take into consideration all those matters raised and hold briefing sessions with all sections of the organisation.