Shepparton local laws/ animal control officers win successful claim

After approximately 18 months of discussions around an agreed PD and a short visit to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC), the ASU and its members have reached an agreement on the reclassification of the local laws/animal control officers moving to band 5 of the local authorities award (2001) with the City of Greater Shepparton.

The City of Greater Shepparton has also agreed to back pay our members to December 2007, when the ASU first lodged the dispute with the AIRC. They have agreed to move to the ‘B’ level within Band 5 at their next review, which is due shortly.

ASU Organiser Cameron Wright was pleased with the outcome, and again noted the work of members to receive a favourable result.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our members at Shepparton for their hard work and persistence. Without their support we wouldn’t have got the result we were after. I’d also like to thank Keith Harvey from the National Office for his valued assistance and expertise in regards to the award classifications and definitions.”

ASU member and Community Ranger David Pickford said the result certainly released some of the pressure involved during discussions.

“The result certainly takes a lot of pressure off. It is great to finally get the recognition we deserve for the duties we undertake. It is also great to have increased pay, but getting recognition is what mattered most. We’re no longer just regarded as dog catchers. Management finally realise that there is a lot more to the position than previously considered,” said David, who wasn’t always positive about reaching a favourable result.

“We thought that it was going to end up in arbitration. We had to go down to the first hearing, but that gave us a lot of confidence that we were on the right path. We thought we would get a result once we heard the commissioner speak about what he thought was going on.”

David was also impressed at the help he and others received from the ASU.

“You could try and fight these battles by yourself, but it would have been a headache and a half, and not to mention very expensive. It was handy having the ASU to talk to. They kept us involved throughout the process and got us to check up on details on what other people in councils were getting paid, which was great.”