Sheriff’s Officers – Direction – Transport in own vehicles – March 2018 (PDF version)

The bulletin Joint Consultative Committee, Thursday, 8 March 2018 briefly covered the Sheriff’s Transport Direction. That bulletin can be found HERE.

The PSA is directing members not to travel in their own vehicles if directed to work at another court and not be reimbursed. Should your OIC not accept your response, contact your PSA urgently with your OIC’s telephone number. The PSA will talk to your OIC on your behalf.

The Sheriff advised us Sheriff’s vehicles will only be used for field enforcement and will not be used to convey Sheriff’s Officers rostered on at another court. Sheriff’s Officers arriving at their main courthouse and subsequently rostered at a hub court are being directed to travel in their own vehicles to the hub court without any reimbursement. The Sheriff is basing that direction on the formation of satellite courts having hub courts. A Sheriff’s Officer is appointed to a satellite or main courthouse but that appointment also covers the hub courts.

We contend that is an incorrect interpretation of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 to apply it that way. We also contend it is in breach of Clause 26 of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009. That covers compensation for travelling and clause 26.1 provides:

Any authorised official travel and associated expenses, properly and reasonably incurred by an employee required to perform duty at a location other than normal headquarters shall be met by the department.

The PSA will be writing to the Sheriff to provide their legal basis in not reimbursing such travel costs and other implications like workers compensation and insurance law. Should that response again uphold the direction we will have no other option than filing a dispute at the Industrial Relations Commission (‘IRC’).

To assist us in a likely dispute at the IRC the PSA is seeking members affected by the Transport Directive to complete the survey below. That will show the number of members affected by the directive that will greatly assist the IRC.

Survey – Sheriff’s Officers

The link found HERE is a survey for Sheriff’s Officers to respond to four questions with Yes or No and a short comment. We would like your response by Friday 6 April 2018.

Further Updates

Your union will continue to update members on matters affecting Sheriff’s Officers by visiting workplaces.

If you would like to arrange a meeting at your workplace please email Bart McKenzie .

As always the PSA welcomes member’s feedback. Should you have any questions or comments please contact your delegate firstly and if required the PSA.

Your PSA/SOVBAG Delegates are:

Eddie Lia – Campbelltown Court

Daniel De La Paz – Penrith Court

Stephen Hancock – Burwood Court

Tony Morawsky – Mt Druitt

Andrew Pierce – Parramatta

Glen Elliot-Rudder – Wagga Wagga

Jason Woollett – Liverpool Court

Your PSA staff:

Andrew Boulton – PSA Industrial Officer

Bart McKenzie – PSA Senior Organiser

What can you do?

• Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
• Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
• Ask a colleague to join the PSA.
• Get involved as your Area Contact
• Not a member join online – https://membership.psa.asn.au/register
• Members can update their details at – https://psa.asn.au/update-your-details/