CODE 2, VOL 35, NO 20 : 02 july 2021

SOU LODGES QIRC APPLICATION TO STOP ELIGIBLE UFUQ MEMBERS FROM RECEIVING 17.5% ANNUAL LEAVE LOADING

This Code 2 includes important information regarding eligible UFUQ member’s 17.5% annual leave loading and proceedings lodged by the QFES Senior Officers Union (SOU) to prevent those members from receiving it.

SOU APPLICATION:
On Thursday 1 July 2021 the QFES SOU lodged an application at the industrial relations commission (QIRC) to –

1. Obtain an urgent interim injunction that will restrain QFRS from causing eligible UFUQ members to receive the 17.5% annual leave loading until the QIRC can make a final ruling, and also to
2. Obtain a permanent injunction preventing QFRS from ever providing the 17.5% annual leave loading entitlement to eligible UFUQ members.

(NOTE: An injunction is a court ruling preventing something from happening, and/or maintaining the status quo, until the court can make a final decision (this is usually known as an interim injunction), or permanently preventing something from happening (this is a permanent injunction).)

The application lodged by the SOU is against QFES/QFRS, not your union. I’ll leave it to you to decide for yourself what QFRS’ motivation might be to defend you and to ensure you receive the entitlement, given the QFES representatives at the matter may well be SOU members.

UFUQ APPLICATION TO JOIN PROCEEDINGS:
Because the QIRC matter is between the SOU and QFES, your union has lodged an application to be joined to the proceeding, so that we can attend and be involved in the matter as it progresses.

The QIRC has listed the SOU application for a mention on Tuesday 6 July 2021.

(Note: A mention is when the QIRC lists a matter for the parties to get together at the QIRC to discuss their availability, likely dates for conciliations and hearings if required, the likely length of the proceeding, and other administrative matters, importantly, there is no argument regarding the substance of an application at the mention.)

I can’t say much else at this stage, and until further developments occur at the QIRC, I have no further information to provide to you in a Code 2.  I have no doubt that you and your colleagues are as surprised and disappointed by this application as I am and that you all have many questions.  I will update you all after the mention on 6 July 2021.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN YOU:
Finally, and this is important, until I provide more information about proceedings I caution UFUQ members against speaking to anyone from the SOU about this matter, as doing so may result in action being taken against you individually by SOU members (QFES).  Please keep your conversations about the SOU application amongst UFUQ members only.

John Oliver - General Secretary