Benchmark WA Industrial Relations Case Database

Union of Workers v Minister for Corrective Services

[2023] WAIRC 20 Single Commissioner (WAIRC) 2023-01-11 File: APPL 15/2022
Source
Commissioner Emmanuel
Not yet cited by other cases
Treatment by later cases (1)
1 neutral
Applicant: Western Australian Prison Officers' Union of Workers
Respondent: Minister for Corrective Services

Ratio

When paying a higher duties allowance under sub-clause 48.2 of the Department of Justice Prison Officers' Industrial Agreement 2020, a prison officer is not entitled to an allowance equivalent to an increment achieved within the previous 18 months if that increment was only obtained after substantive appointment to the higher position (not while acting in it).

Outcome

For applicant declared

Authority signal

Not yet cited by other cases Signal-weighted score: 0.8
Derived from how later decisions have treated this case. Dark green = leading authority, green = positively treated, grey = neutral or sparse data, amber = caution, red = treated negatively.

Key facts · 4

  • Higher duties allowance payment under sub-clause 48.2 of the Department of Justice Prison Officers' Industrial Agreement 2020
  • Prison officer claimed entitlement to allowance equivalent to increment achieved within previous 18 months
  • Increment was achieved only after substantive appointment to the higher position
  • Increment was not achieved while acting in the higher position

Concept tags · 3

[P]Award interpretation — principles [P]Registered industrial agreement (WA) [S]Public sector matter (general WAIRC jurisdiction post-PSAB)

Principles · 1

articulates para ?
When paying a higher duties allowance under sub-clause 48.2 of the Department of Justice Prison Officers' Industrial Agreement 2020, a prison officer is not entitled to an allowance equivalent to an increment achieved within the previous 18 months if that increment was obtained only after substantive appointment to the higher position (not while acting in the higher position).
Test: Higher duties allowance eligibility test

Subsequent treatment · 1

Cited / considered· 1

Cited
(2023) 103 WAIG WAIRC — Single Commissioner — DAY, 28 OCTOBER 2022, WEDNESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2022, TUESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2022...
Archived text (203 words)
INTERPRETATION OF SUB-CLAUSE 48.2 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRISON OFFICERS' INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT 2020 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION PARTIES Western Australian Prison Officers' Union of Workers APPLICANT -v- Minister for Corrective Services RESPONDENT CORAM Commissioner T Emmanuel DATE Wednesday, 11 January 2023 FILE NO. APPL 15 OF 2022 CITATION NO. 2023 WAIRC 00020 Result Declaration made Representation Applicant Mr J Theodorsen (as agent) Respondent Mr J Carroll (of counsel) Declaration HAVING heard Mr J Theodorsen (as agent) on behalf of the applicant and Mr J Carroll (of counsel) on behalf of the respondent; AND HAVING given reasons for decision in which the Commission made a declaration; NOW THEREFORE the Commission, pursuant to the powers conferred under the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA), declares – THAT when paying a higher duties allowance under sub-clause 48.2 of the Department of Justice Prison Officers’ Industrial Agreement 2020, a prison officer is not entitled to an allowance equivalent to the increment the prison officer had attained in the previous 18 months if the prison officer only achieved that increment within the previous 18 months when substantively appointed to the higher position and did not achieve that increment when acting in the higher position. Commissioner T Emmanuel