NT public service shift workers win pay dispute over 38-hour contract wage theft

The Northern Territory government has agreed to a pay rise and back pay for thousands of public service shift workers, bringing an end to a months long dispute with the union.

About 2000 workers across hospitals, prisons, and other major departments on 38-hour contracts had for years been paid the same as colleagues on 36.75-hour contracts.

In effect it meant the workers were robbed of 60 hours of pay worth thousands of dollars each year.

The Community and Public Sector Union launched a dispute with the NT Office of the Commissioner of Public Employment in July, which the government this week agreed to resolve.

Workers on 38-hour per week contracts will receive a 3.4 per cent pay increase, backdated to April 2022.

Thousands of public service shift workers will receive a pay rise. Picture: Glenn Campbell

CPSU regional secretary David Villegas said the union “welcomes the government announcement, recognising shift workers”.

“For too long, 2000 workers across the NT public service who were rostered to 38-hour work weeks have been getting paid exactly the same as other workers on 36.75-hour rosters,” he said.

“As a direct result of CPSU advocacy, the government has finally agreed to righting this wrong and will pay all shift workers on 38-hour arrangements a 3.4 per cent pay rise.

“This represents millions of dollars for thousands of workers across the Northern Territory public service and will catch staff up to where they should have been all along.

“The payments will be backdated from April 2022 and count towards superannuation.”
 

Written by Fia Walsh for NT NEWS