The Fair Work Commission has resolved a rare pay dispute between the Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill and its rank-and-and-file workforce.
About 16 months ago, a mid-week public holiday was declared by the Federal Government to mark the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96.
As reported by The SE Voice at the time, the KCA Millicent Mill continued to operate around-the-clock as usual as its only closures each year are on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The mill has around 300 non-staff blue collar and white-collar employees and those who worked on this public holiday did not receive any additional payment.
The CFMMEU is the principal union at the KCA plant and it approached the company about the possibility for compensation.
However, the mill management initially rejected the approach and stated the annualised wage system in force for several years at the Millicent Mill already incorporated penalty rates for 11 public holidays per annum.
In reality, most KCA employees are only required to work between four and seven public holidays each year.
Nevertheless, KCA later offered its non-staff employees last May an additional four hours of paid leave to recognise their work on the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth.
The CFMMEU was dissatisfied with this offer and applied to the Fair Work Commission for conciliation on this matter.
After hearing argument from the company and the union, Fair Work Commission Deputy President Peter Anderson reportedly ruled the KCA non-staff employees receive four hours of leave.
Deputy President Anderson reportedly said the company’s offer of four hours of paid leave was fair and reasonable given the annualised wage factored in penalty rates for 11 public holidays.
The SE Voice directed a number of specific questions to KCA at its Sydney headquarters including if its staff were compensated.
“We cannot comment on those specifics as it relates to industrial matters,” a KCA spokesperson said.
This newspaper has also sought comment from the CFMMEU.
The National Cabinet agreed to hold a National Day of Mourning on September 22, 2022 in honour of the life and service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The National Day of Mourning was a one-off national public holiday and an opportunity for all Australians to pay tribute to the life of the Queen, outside of a work and study setting.
The National Day of Mourning provided time to grieve this collective loss and commemorate the late Queen’s extraordinary life of service, devotion and loyalty.
The National Cabinet encouraged all Australians to take time to pause and reflect on the Queen’s faithful service, that will be remembered for centuries to come.
