The Fair Work Commission has awarded wage increases of 13.5% over three years with the first 4.5% backdated to 1 October last year.  This equates to a 14.2% compounded increase in salaries over the life of the Workplace Determination or 4.7% p.a.

Originally the Government were offering 2.5% p.a.

The previous Parks Agreement expired 31 May 2011.

Fair Work backdated the first 4.5% pay increase to 1 October 2012, and significant backpay for all staff will compensate for the delay.

  -- Fair Work Awards 13.5% with Back Pay --

The pay increases are as follows:

• 1 October 2012 - 4.5%

• 1 March 2013 - 3.0%

• 1 March 2014 - 3.0%

• 1 March 2015 - 3.0%


  ** Top of Band Payment Removed **

Fair Work concluded on the matter of the top of band payment;

  “We are not satisfied that the merits favour the inclusion
   of ceiling point performance pay in the workplace determination.

  "We accept Mr Mead’s evidence that the requirement for
   employees at the top of their salary band to have a
   performance and development plan is encompassed within
   the ceiling point salary level.”

This is a disappointing outcome.


  ** Job Category Clauses are Excluded say FW **

Fair Work has also ruled that job category clauses on casuals and fixed-term contracts are excluded matters from the Workplace Determination as per Victoria's Referral Act.

A copy of the decision can be found here:

Workforce & Workplace Express has further detail of the decision here;

Overall the outcome is a substantial win for union members.

Parks employees were facing an extremely hostile Government and we campaigned well, fought hard, and won significant improvements.

What became abundantly clear was that this Government has no respect whatsoever for its Parks employees, and expected that staff would simply capitulate.

Fair Work has heavily criticised the Government's approach.

Well done to all our members.

All current and future Parks employees will be beneficiaries of our actions.


TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!

http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary / Federal Secretary

Wednesday, 13th February 2013