Maurice Blackburn Members Meeting Next Week
From our last EBA bulletin you are no doubt aware that Maurice Blackburn has now withdrawn the previous Offer (the Offer) to employees originally tabled in December 2019. Maurice Blackburn advises this is due to COVID-19 and the financial uncertainty brought with it. Maurice Blackburn have indicated there are potentially serious implications for the business in future but have not as yet provided any substantive financial information or projections to the ASU for scrutiny of this claim.
The ASU is well aware that COVID-19 has had devastating impacts to businesses and our members across industries, resulting in job losses, stand downs, and voluntary administration processes. While we have been campaigning hard across the different industries that we represent, every workplace is different and they cannot all be treated with the same industrial response. So far, the ASU has received very limited information concerning the financial impacts to the Maurice Blackburn business and have only heard possible forecasts based on some practice areas seeing a slow down in work. While it is not unreasonable to suggest that revenue may be reduced, the ASU remains in a position where the financial implications for MB cannot be fully appreciated until some context is provided by Maurice Blackburn. We expect this will become clearer in further EBA meetings and consultation with Maurice Blackburn.
Further, our members have reported to the ASU that in meetings of employees, MB has advised that business is doing well, that productivity is unaffected and that working from home arrangements have worked out better than expected. This is good news, however it does contradict some of the recent updates put out by Maurice Blackburn to employees regarding an intention to apply for JobKeeper payments and EBA bargaining.
EBA OFFER
Members will recall from our last bulletin that MB has proposed the idea of a 12-month roll-over EA with a wage offer of 2.25%, significantly less than the original ASU log of claims and less than the first Offer made in December of 2019. The ASU was not in a position to unilaterally reject this proposal however, and we now need to meet with our members to discuss the merits of the proposal as well as our concerns.
MEMBERS MEETINGS
Two members meetings will be held via Zoom next week so that you can hear from your Organiser and your EBA delegates about where we were at with the previous Offer when COVID-19 reached crisis level. We will also discuss how COVID-19 has impacted bargaining and the withdrawal of the Offer. We will then discuss the proposed roll-over agreement in detail and ask our members to provide feedback. We will be asking important questions of our members during these meetings and seeking your directions and endorsement. As such it is vitally important that all members attend so that you can participate in a live poll. There will also be some time for member questions at the end.
For your convenience there will be a lunchtime and an evening meeting, you must register prior to the meeting via the link below:
Lunchtime members Zoom meeting
When: Jun 11, 2020 01:00 – 2:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkdeGuqjwuHtKfeiM9dNWbijpN8z8n39mV
Evening members Zoom meeting
When: Jun 11, 2020 06:00 – 7:30 PM
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscO2hqT0iHNCtfD_0ygnJvvXhYDYI2gDw
Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you are aware of non-members that are interested in participating, it is never too late to join the ASU, forward them this email and ask them to join so they can attend the meeting.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact your workplace delegates or your Organiser Sarah Haar at shaar@asupsvic.org
