On 23 March 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment A) was finalised between the NSW Government, Unions NSW and affiliate unions for staff covered by the Crown Employees Wages Staff (Rates of Pay) Award 2007 and the Crown Employees (Department of Environment and Climate Change – Royal Botanic Gardens, Building and Mechanical Trades Staff) Award.

The Memorandum provides for increases of 4% per annum to wages and work related allowances, with the increases above 2.5% p.a. to be funded by the employee related savings contained in the Memorandum and agency level reforms.

To give effect to these increases the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW on 24 March 2009 made a new Crown Employees Wages Staff (Rates of Pay) Award 2008 (Attachment B) which applies from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2008 for three years until 30 June 2011.

The new Award applies to employees covered by the industrial instruments listed in Schedule A of the Award, and does not affect other industrial instruments. The new rates of pay are shown in Schedule B and work related allowances in Schedule C. Current expense related allowances (e.g. meal allowances) are shown in Schedule D, which will be adjusted independently in line with the awards referred to.

Agencies should implement the new arrangements as soon as practicable. Relevant agencies will be contacted shortly to discuss variations which will need to be made to agency specific awards to apply the new conditions.

John Lee
Director General