Law firm staff secure pay rises between 11-22% under new union agreement

More than 600 staff at national law firm Slater & Gordon will be able to access significantly increased employee benefits after the vast majority voted in favour of a union enterprise agreement.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on HR Leader’s sister brand, Lawyers Weekly.

Slater & Gordon confirmed, just before Christmas, that employees covered by the enterprise agreement (EA) had overwhelmingly voted in favour of the proposed Slater & Gordon Australian Services Union Enterprise Agreement 2024.

Voting for the agreement opened on Monday, 16 December, and closed on Wednesday, 18 December. Of the more than 600 staff eligible to vote, 83 per cent voted, and more than 88 per cent voted in favour.

This comes after, in November, the Australian Services Union criticised the firm for putting in a revised union offer to staff following delayed nine-month-long enterprise bargaining negotiations, in which staff were requesting a 21 per cent pay rise over three years, as reported by The Australian Financial Review at the time.

The agreement, which will now be sent to the Fair Work Commission for approval, will give Slaters’ staff covered by the EA at least a 10.9 per cent increase over three years, with law clerks and legal assistants eligible for pay increases of between 11.8 per cent and 21.9 per cent over three years.

In addition to pay increases, staff covered by the agreement will also be eligible for 26 weeks of paid parental leave for both parents, accessible after six months of employment, up to five days of paid leave per annum for women’s health for conditions such as menopause and access to fertility treatment, 20 days paid family and domestic violence leave, and the option to take an alternative Australia Day public holiday.

Employees will also receive additional service leave, bereavement leave, and an increase in the firm’s wellness allowance.

Speaking at the time, Slater & Gordon CEO Dina Tutungi said she was proud that the firm was able to deliver the in-principle agreement before the recent summer break.

“We welcome the strong support for this agreement and believe it delivers significant and well-deserved remuneration increases, as well as market-leading benefits for our people,” she said.