CODE 2, VOL 34, NO 18 : 21 april 2020

QFRS DOUBLES DOWN ON AURION INFLEXIBILITY

As you may remember, your union wrote to Fire and Rescue last month to formally notify them of the ongoing errors and inconsistencies in the new system that require urgent fixing:

1. Incorrect recording of leave entitlements on pay slips (in ‘days’ based on an 8-hour day),
2. Incorrect recording of leave entitlements on self-service,
3. Prematurely deducting leave (at the point of approval not at the point of use).

QFRS have responded proposing a ‘working group’, but they maintain their position that it’s “not possible” to fix any of the above problems.

I’d like to assure all members that “not possible” is not the case.  Your union has been informed that QSS can fix every Aurion matter we have raised.  What they require to do this is clear direction from QFRS.

Further to the 3 issues above, your union is constantly receiving reports (every fortnight and month) of repeated failures in the Aurion system, particularly for smaller groups of specialist roles, and for auxiliaries. I remind you to log the issues with payroll and await responses, so that if the issues are not resolved, we can take these matters up on your behalf once you hear back from payroll about why they got it wrong.  The email for you to raise issues is QFESPayrollProject@qfes.qld.gov.au and you’ll need the records of your approach and their responses before you contact your local UFUQ representative for help.

Each of these errors are not only affecting your pay, with underpayments and overpayments a regular outcome for many of you every fortnight, but they are also misrepresenting your industrial entitlements, to annual leave, long service leave and sick leave, and it is avoidable.

Your union will use the working group to attempt to get QFRS to fix their errors and to cease blaming a system that was poorly conceived and has been poorly implemented.
I will keep you up to date on the work of the working group.

EASTER AND PANDEMIC LEAVE PAYROLL ERRORS

I am advised that members who worked over the Easter period have not been paid correctly, and that members who have had to access pandemic leave and/or special leave for COVID-19 purposes were not paid normal shift allowances meaning that their pay was hundreds of dollars short.

Once again, the very expensive Aurion payroll system has failed.  Therefore, it is important that you regularly check your pay and pay slips.

When an error is made, in the first instance, please ensure you raise the issue with your regional HR contact and email the details of your issue, and any evidence you can provide, to QFESPayrollProject@qfes.qld.gov.au as soon as possible (and I encourage anyone who has not reported errors from the Easter period to do so).  If an issue remains unresolved, after you have received a response from regional HR and ‘QFES Payroll Project’, please notify your local UFUQ representative for assistance.

If seeking assistance, please ensure you provide your local UFUQ representative with the appropriate evidence for your claim, including the reasons provided to you by HR and/or ‘QFES Payroll Project’ (preferably in writing) as to why they believe you have been paid correctly.

ANZAC DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

I wish to remind all members that the Anzac Day Public Holiday (25 April 2020) falls, and will be observed, on a Saturday this year. The Holidays Act 1983 does not prescribe a substituted day when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday (i.e. Saturday is the gazetted and observed Public Holiday this year).

As always, the public holiday provisions and arrangements relevant to your work situation and roster will apply for the day.

John Oliver - General Secretary

 

 

Authorised by John Oliver General Secretary 
United Firefighters' Union of Australia, Union of Employees QLD