The ASU has had 2 meetings with the company, at the first we were given a detailed account of the status of the finances and what the loss of several contracts has meant for the business. The company also tabled a range of issues that it wanted to address in the new EBA including wanting to find savings.
ASU Claims
At the second meeting that was held on Tuesday 8 April the ASU tabled claims that members endorsed. The claims submitted by the ASU included;
- Maintaining all current conditions unless improved.
- Better provisions for converting casuals to permanent, part timers to full time and minimum guaranteed hours each week.
- A fairer means for paying overtime.
- Ensure that positions covered by higher duties are filled unless the higher duties is to cover someone that is on some form of leave.
- Improvements to the classification structure to better recognise experience, skills and qualifications.
- Better training and an auditable process to ensure people are properly trained.
- Minimum 10 hour breaks between shifts as well as a break for each 5 hours of work.
- Better and fairer access to annual leave.
- Ensure proper facilities are in place for breaks.
- Union rights provisions to ensure that you’re represented within the workplace, have paid union meetings and that your delegates are properly trained.
- Ensure that people are paid the same rate for the same job nationally.
- An increase to superannuation.
- A 5% pay increase per year for each year of the agreement.
What the company wants
- Monthly pays
- 3 hour call in’s (including full timers)
- Rostered hours over 4 weeks to average 160 hours for full timers instead of 40 hours per week
- Split shifts
- Less sick leave for new starters
- Less annual leave for new starters
The company has also introduced a new centralised workforce planning system and are reviewing the workforce mix and rosters of all locations.
What’s next?
The next meeting with the company has been scheduled for 8 May 2014, the ASU has asked to be given a full overview of the workforce planning system, sample rosters detailing what the company says is the right workforce mix so we can see exactly what they want the future to look like and how that will impact on rosters and workforce mix.
What are you waiting for?
It’s now time to join the ASU if you are not yet a member. There is no longer an excuse to not stand united with the rest your workmates that are members of the ASU. As you can see if we do not stick together many things are at risk.
The ASU has shown that it delivers and works openly with members to get the best outcome for you, in the last few months alone we have;
- Had 30 casuals made permanent
- Had 10 part timers converted to full time
- Had 9 new permanent leading hand positions created, 5 of which have been filled and the other 4 are currently being advertised.
- Had 18 ASA 3’s made 3A
- Had flight clerks upgraded from ASA 3A to ASA 2
- Agreement for a new lunchroom on the ramp
- As well as dealing with many local issues and individual representation and advice