AUXILIARY UPDATE : 29 January 2024

STATE WAGE CASE WAGE RISE PENDING

As reported to you in the Auxiliary Update of 30 November 2023, the Industrial Commission has flagged that you will likely receive a 5.75% rise in your hourly rate and relevant allowances and penalties.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing proceedings at the Industrial Commission to settle the State Wage Case and allow for a Decision to be published, you are going to be waiting for a while longer.  Unfortunately, I cannot report when a Decision will be published, but I can report that the Decision, whenever it has been published in previous years, has always backdated the wage rise to 1 September.  So, this means there will be a backpay for each member who has performed work since 1 September for the period from then to whenever the Decision arrives. And the new rate will then be in force and your Award will be amended by the Industrial Commission to reflect the new wage and allowance and penalty rates.

I will report back as soon as I can after the State Wage Case Decision is published.

RETENTION ALLOWANCE WILL BE PAID IN FEBRUARY

You are no doubt aware that clause 15.4 of your Award provides for two forms of retention allowance.  One is paid to you if you have attended at least 75% of your training nights in 2023 and the other is broken into two payments, one if you attended between 50% ad 75% of callouts, and the other if you attended 75% or more callouts in 2023.

The Award requires this 2023 calculation to be provided to you in your February wage payment and QFES and QSS have informed your union this will take place.

There will be a second payment round calculated for you if you qualified for any of the three retention allowance payments once the State Wage Case Decision is published, as the 5.75% rise will also apply to the retention allowances, and this will have to be calculated and paid to you at some point after the Decision is published by the Industrial Commission.

John Oliver - General Secretary