Lismore seeking back pay advice

LISMORE City Council has asked other regional councils for advice in resolving the dispute over back pay for employees of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library.

LISMORE City Council has asked other regional councils for advice in resolving the dispute over back pay for employees of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library.

The back pay issue arose after staff were transferred and Lismore became the administering council.

The United Services Union says staff should be back paid from July 2010, but Lismore council says it will back pay from July last year.

At a meeting of the RTRL committee last month, Lismore asked each member council to consider the issue and report back with advice on how to proceed.

But Ballina Shire Council general manager Paul Hickey said it would be "inappropriate" for the council to provide advice.

"It is difficult from our perspective to make a firm decision on this," he said.

"I am confident that Lismore City Council has the management experience and expertise to resolve the dispute."

In a report to be presented to Ballina councillors on Thursday, Mr Hickey said "there must be an element of trust that Lismore will resolve the matter in the best interests of all the member councils".

He also said Ballina council should consider entering an interim contractual arrangement with Lismore Council "if it appears there will be on-going uncertainty in respect to the permanent governance structure for the provision of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library service."

Originally published as Lismore seeking back pay advice