Newsletter No. 2 - 26 January 2010 details the Union’s concerns about the Fire Service’s unacceptable delay in paying new wage rates and allowances.
The reply received from the Fire Service to the letter attached to that Newsletter, does not change the Fire Service’s timetable.
The only explanation for the delay is:
“The calculation and processing of the backpay is complicated and time consuming and accuracy is essential, as you will be well aware based on errors that occurred following the last settlement. The new rates cannot be loaded into the payroll system until the backpay calculations have been completed and loaded into the system.”
This explanation, such as it is, is not acceptable:
- If there was an error following the settlement of the previous C.A. (presumably a reference to the alleged Officership Allowance) this concerned
an alleged use of an incorrect commencement date for its payment.
- The lump sum payment has now been made. That amount could not have been calculated until and unless the 1.8% increase in wages and allowances from
1 January 2009 had been calculated.
- The new rates – both from 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010 must be loaded into the system in order to calculate the backpay and the lump sum.
Consequently, the Union’s lawyers have filed proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority claiming a breach of the Collective Agreement and seeking penalties in relation to that breach.
Members will be updated as the case proceeds.
