The Taxation Officers’ Branch of the Australian Services Union (ASU) has escalated its pay dispute to the Fair Work Commission. 

With outgoing ATO Commissioner Chris Jordan preparing to hand over the reins to Rob Heferen on March 1, action has been taken that will leave the incoming commissioner to navigate the choppy waters of employee remuneration discussions.

The crux of the dispute lies in the union's assertion that its members, who resisted the Coalition government's push to strip away conditions and entitlements, thereby forgoing pay rises, deserve compensation. 

This stance is set against the backdrop of other agencies, which, having conceded conditions previously, saw them reinstated under the current Labor administration. 

The ASU's claim is not just about the immediate future but seeks redress for past sacrifices  - highlighting a fundamental clash between employee expectations and governmental directives on pay policy.

Jeff Lapidos, Secretary of the ASU Taxation Officers’ Branch says the referral of the dispute to the Fair Work Commission is a step towards securing a fair resolution. 

The union's strategy hinges on demonstrating the inadequacy of the ATO's current pay proposal, with hopes pinned on a collective bargaining agreement that more accurately reflects the sacrifices made by its members over recent years.

The ASU's argument for compensation includes a detailed breakdown of the perceived financial losses incurred by its members due to the protracted negotiation period leading up to the 2017 Agreement. 

These include catch-up pay increases and lump sum payments, totaling a significant percentage of each employee's salary, to compensate for the delayed pay rises between 2014 and 2017.

This dispute unfolds against the broader canvas of public sector pay negotiations, where the ASU's stance represents a divergent approach to that taken by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) in recent enterprise agreement discussions. 

The outcome of this contention has broader implications, potentially affecting the ATO's operational effectiveness and the broader public service's approach to pay negotiations under a Labor government known for its emphasis on equitable fiscal policies.