Transgrid workers have won pay rises totalling 17.5 per cent over three years after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on Friday published its 61 page decision in response to the consent intractable bargaining declaration. You can view the full decision here.
The joint unions, comprising the CPSU NSW, the Electrical Trades Union, the Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Services Union and Professionals Australia, asked the bench to approve a 21.5 per cent boost over three years, inclusive of two superannuation rises of 0.5 per cent.
Transgrid however sought total rises of just 14 per cent, including two 0.5 per cent bumps to superannuation.
The Fair Work Commission settled on 17.5 per cent over three years, inclusive of two 0.5 per cent superannuation increases.
The wage increases will be paid as follows:
The decision that back pay would be granted was an important win from the joint unions, with Transgrid making submissions that there was no justification for this. The FWC disagreed with these submissions.
Unfortunately, the joint unions’ claim that the rate for overtime performed on a Saturday should be paid at double time was not successful, with the FWC determining that the same provisions with respect to overtime as are found in the 2020 Agreement will apply: that is, no change.
The FWC directed the parties to confer and provide the Workplace Determination that reflects the decision within 14 days. The joint unions will push for the above pay increases (including back pay) to be processed as soon as possible, pending the required processes being completed in the FWC.
