Enterprise bargaining in Scope
CPSU NSW members will be aware that the union is presently bargaining with Scope for a new Enterprise Agreement.
In consultation with local workplace representatives, CPSU NSW has prepared a log of claims. The log of claims is like a wish list where member interests in advancing wages and conditions are detailed formally and served on an employer.
CPSU NSW continually pushes for increased pay and better conditions in the workplaces where we have members. HACSU have also lodged its log of claims. The remaining bargaining representatives are still to formalise and serve their logs of claims on Scope.
The full CPSU NSW log of claims can be accessed HERE. The CPSU NSW log of claims has been served on a without prejudice basis. This means that your union can adjust, withdraw or modify elements of the log of claims during negotiations.
Bargaining meetings are currently paused pending Scope receiving logs of claims from the various bargaining parties, although we expect that bargaining will recommence in September.
HR and payroll compliance errors
Scope notified its employees and CPSU NSW that it had identified payroll errors as part of the bargaining process for the new enterprise agreement. Primarily the errors relate to Scope employees in Victoria.
A series of regular meetings with Scope are being held for information and progress reports to be shared with CPSU NSW.
There are four payroll and HR issues identified by Scope where underpayments had occurred. Not all identified errors involve underpayments to CPSU NSW members. These are underpayments to:
High Intensity Support Allowance
An allowance was not paid correctly to some employees supporting NDIS participants requiring high intensity daily personal activities. This underpayment may affect some Scope employees in NSW.
High Intensity Support may include:
Scope advises that some CPSU NSW members may be impacted by this payroll underpayment.
First Aid Allowance
The process for claiming the First Aid Allowance has not always been clear or applied consistently for eligible employees in Victoria. Scope advised that it has continued to pay the First Aid Allowance to CPSU NSW members.
Scope advises that CPSU NSW members are not impacted by this payroll underpayment.
Level 1 Support Workers incremental progression
A small number of employees classified at Level 1 in operational roles have not received the correct pay progression.
Scope advises that CPSU NSW members are not impacted by this payroll underpayment.
Enabling Functions Classification
Scope have identified a small number of classification issues with how some roles in enabling functions are classified under the SCHaDS Award.
Scope advises that CPSU NSW members are not impacted by this payroll underpayment.
What’s next?
Scope self-identified these underpayments and reported these payroll issues to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). As part of the FWO process Scope made undertakings to make full backpay to all employees affected by these payroll issues past and present. Scope have also undertaken to include backpay to Superannuation as part of the restitution process.
As these payroll issues affect many employees, calculations will be complex, and each affected employee will have a different backpay amount. It will take Scope some time to methodically calculate each affected employees’ underpayment.
The FWO involvement and oversight of this underpayment issue will help Scope ensure its payroll system complies with existing employment instruments now and into the future.
CPSU NSW members may already have been contacted by Scope HR regarding a potential underpayment as Scope predicts that contact will be made with all affected employees by the end of August 2025.
Scope have set up an area on its intranet to provide information to its employees on these payroll problems. Members are advised to actively monitor the intranet as Scope has committed to continuously update it with new information as it arises.
If you have received advice on an underpayment and you are sure it is still incorrect, contact your assigned People Partner at Scope to discuss your concerns with them. After you’ve had that discussion, if you believe the backpay calculations are still wrong, contact CPSU NSW who will take up your concerns with Scope.
Scope and CPSU NSW continue to meet to discuss the backpay and remediation options for members with updates being to members as the developments occur.
