16 April 2020
New award supports council jobs
More than 100 NSW councils have adopted a new industrial award that will help preserve local jobs for thousands of local government staff across the State.
Developed by Local Government NSW and local government unions, the Local Government (COVID-19) Splinter (Interim) Award was made by the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales on 14 April 2020. It applies for 12 months and operates in addition to the existing award and any individual council enterprise agreements.
Local Government NSW President Linda Scott said the Splinter Award provided special interim arrangements that give councils and county councils greater flexibility to provide suitable alternative duties for permanent staff unable to perform their regular work, and clear leave balances, because of COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
“The intent is to retain as many people as possible, for as long as possible, as councils navigate through this pandemic,” Cr Scott said.
“Without this Award, councils would face an almost impossible task and thousands of council staff would face uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead. It was necessary because the Federal Government deemed both local government employers and their employees ineligible for the JobKeeper Program, despite the impacts of COVID-19 on council income.
“This new Award obliges councils to explore suitable alternative duties where staff are unable to perform their normal duties at their normal place of work.
“Councils are able to determine how work is best carried out according to people’s skills, availability and their locations, and based on an assessment of the work available, where, and for how long. The new Award also offers council new flexible leave provisions,” she said.
Where councils have no useful work, people are entitled to four weeks of special leave at their normal pay; a Job Retention Allowance of $858 per week for a maximum of three months (paid on a pro rata basis, based on hours) and leave without pay. They can supplement the job retention allowance from their accrued annual or long service leave. They may also be recalled to work normal or alternative duties at any time while they are being paid special leave or the job retention allowance.
Cr Scott said the provisions in the Award help councils maintain connection to those highly valued staff who are unable to be placed in alternate work arrangements.
“NSW communities know very well that it’s local councils who are best placed to deliver locally led solutions, including recovery efforts and economic stimulus – as demonstrated during bushfires, drought and floods. This must be reflected in future NSW Government stimulus packages in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Cr Scott said.
“Funding councils during these tough economic times is the solution to the nation’s recovery from COVID-19. With adequate funding and resources, we can get people back to work and support local businesses to build the infrastructure and deliver the community supports needed to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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