Excessive Hours referred to the AIRC

The Association has been trying to resolve a dispute arising from the new excessive hours penalty payable to members on the commuted overtime allowance (COA) contained in the 2007 Workplace Agreement.

 The dispute revolves around a number of issues including:

• When the penalty should be paid.

The Force believes that every time a member in receipt of COA works overtime a Superintendent is to decide if the hours worked are excessive.

The Association believes that any hours worked in excess of 12 consecutive hours should be considered excessive. We also believe that consideration of cumulative hours worked over a determined   period should be made.

• The correct rate of payment for the penalty.

As a resolution on these issues could not be reached and the matter has been referred to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

In the mean time, members should continue to:

• Seek prior approval where excessive hours are to be worked
• Document all instances where approval has been sought and denied; and
• Forward examples of excessive hours worked where payment has been made to the Association’s Industrial Relations Office.

 We will update you on the progress of this matter as soon as possible.

Paul Mullett