Outdoor workers at Riverina Water have resolved to take further strike action following a mass meeting held in response to the board's ongoing refusal to address their claims for fair pay.
The meeting, which took place today shortly after the extraordinary board session, saw United Services Union (USU) members reaffirm their commitment to the principle of "same grade, same pay" — a demand for outdoor workers to receive the same hourly rate as their indoor counterparts for all hours worked.
The dispute centres on a significant pay disparity, with outdoor staff required to work 38 hours a week compared to the 35 hours required of indoor employees on the same pay grade.
Union representatives argue this effectively forces outdoor workers to complete nearly a month of unpaid work each year, undermining the principle of equal pay for equal work.
USU Acting General Secretary Daniel Papps said the union's members had returned to work last week in good faith, hoping for constructive dialogue, but that the board's unwillingness to address the core issue had left them with no choice but to escalate their action.
Members have resolved to hold another mass meeting on Thursday morning to decide on whether or not they will return to work.
"This isn't just about money; it's about respect and fairness," Mr Papps said.
We're calling on Riverina Water to step up and address this inequity."
USU members are assuring the public that throughout the strike action water quality and emergency work that threatens supply, property or public safety will continue as normal.
There will be no threat to public safety, and the union hopes that the public will get behind its members as they struggle for a fair pay outcome.
The union is expected to announce further industrial actions if the board fails to offer a satisfactory response, signalling a potentially long standoff as both sides dig in over the issue of fair compensation.
