Riverina Water workers have today returned to work following a second round of strike action, after management and union representatives agreed to further discussions.
Riverina Water and the United Services Union (USU) have jointly committed to seeking the intervention of the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to oversee further discussions on this matter and on productivity measures that could offset the costs of harmonising working hours.
In layman's terms, both parties have agreed to call in the 'industrial umpire' to find a way forward in this matter.
The core issue at the heart of the dispute is the current requirement for outdoor workers to work 38 hours per week, three hours more than their indoor counterparts who are on the same pay grade and receive the same weekly pay but are only required to work 35 hours.
This discrepancy, union representatives argue, effectively forces outdoor workers to perform nearly a month of unpaid work each year, undermining the principle of equal pay for equal work.
USU Acting General Secretary Daniel Papps welcomed the joint commitment to engage with the Industrial Commission to resolve the matter amicably.
"While we would have hoped to have this matter resolved today, we're keen to work through Riverina Water's concerns to ensure an amicable and mutually beneficial outcome all parties can live with," said Mr Papps.
The negotiations over working hours have been a part of the broader negotiations over the new enterprise award which Riverina Water and its workforce negotiate every three years. The current award is due to expire on June 30.
Riverina Water CEO Andrew Crakanthorp has also agreed that if the NSW IRC process results in delays to the current award negotiations beyond the nominal expiration date, then members are guaranteed to receive back pay to 1 July 2025.
Mr Crakanthorp has also committed that should another relevant award make similar changes then Riverina Water would automatically follow suit.
