Riverina Water workers will receive a 15 per cent pay increase over the next five years. Photo: Riverina Water/Facebook.
After months of strike action, negotiations and legal proceedings, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission has finalised a new enterprise award covering Riverina Water staff, delivering them a 15 per cent pay increase over three years.
However, a key union complaint persists. Outdoor employees will continue to work three hours more per week than indoor staff on the same classification/pay rate.
The 2025 Riverina Water Enterprise Award was officially made on 21 July in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, following a majority vote by United Services Union (USU) members to accept the proposed offer.
The result follows protracted bargaining, which included two separate walk-offs by staff and a formal bargaining dispute brought before the commission.
Agreement could not be reached on one of the union’s key claims – the harmonisation of working hours between indoor and outdoor staff. But both parties were able to find common ground on wages and a path forward through a new memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU commits Riverina Water to completing a long-awaited Organisational Change Review (OCR) within the life of the award.
“This is a hard-earned and well-deserved outcome for our members,” USU organiser Mick Jones said.
“While we’re disappointed there wasn’t consensus on standardising hours, the significant wage uplift and commitment to organisational reform are strong wins for workers.”
Riverina Water is a utility company that provides drinking water to residents in Wagga and surrounding towns. It defended the disparity in hourly pay between indoor and outdoor workers.
“Differences in working arrangements reflect long-standing operational requirements and are consistent with common practice across the local government sector,” a spokesperson said.
”The existing arrangements were considered and agreed to continue by all parties as part of the award negotiation process.”
The company was also satisfied with the outcome.
“The new award delivers further improvements to pay and conditions, including a 15 per cent wage increase over three years,” the spokesperson said.
”It builds on our existing entitlements, which already sit above the comparable state award, to support a fair and sustainable outcome for our workforce.
“We are proud of the work our people do every day and remain focused on strengthening a positive, respectful workplace culture while delivering on our mission to deliver safe and reliable water at the lowest sustainable cost.”
The union says the result demonstrates the power of collective action, crediting the solidarity of members and the efforts of workplace delegates and bargaining representatives.
“All changes will take effect from the current pay period and will be reflected in workers’ pay from July 29,” Mr Jones confirmed.
The United Services Union represents workers across local government, water utilities and other sectors.
