FORCED TO DRIVE FOR FREE: TRAVEL PAY REINSTATED AFTER CONTRACT DISPUTE

NPAA case win: A New South Wales nurse has won back unpaid wages. Plus she secured ongoing earnings protection after her employer attempted to exclude travel time from paid hours.

After signing a new contract with a modest pay increase, the NPAA member worked 53.5 hours in a fortnight. This included 10.5 hours of travel time going between sites in her own vehicle. She was then advised that due to her above-award rate and a set-off clause, travel between facilities would no longer be paid.

An unwelcome surprise. Under a previous agreement with identical wording, travel time was always paid. There was no clear communication that this long-standing arrangement would change. Yet, in practice, the new interpretation resulted in a significant reduction in overall earnings. 

Grounds for a complaint. NPAA reviewed the contract swiftly and moved to challenge the employer’s position. They argued that the employer could not unilaterally alter how the contract operated, especially when such a change disadvantaged an employee.  

A moral and financial victory. Standing up for our members is what we do best. We were able to secure a pay rise that included travel time, adding $500–$600 per fortnight to the pay. We also recovered $10,000 in backpay for hours already worked.

Clarity restored. This case is a reminder that above-award pay does not cancel core entitlements and that contract terms cannot be reinterpreted after the fact to reduce take-home pay.  

Real change starts with empowering frontline nurses, not bureaucrats. The NPAA is incredibly effective at supporting members through workplace issues and disputes. It comes down to our experienced case managers and our unique RED™ case resolution system, which helps us get to the heart of issues and achieve fair, practical outcomes quickly. 

We love helping our members. And we’d love to help you too. If you’re a member who needs support, submit a ticket in your dashboard or get in touch on 1300 263 374, or hotline@npaa.asn.au.

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