eTU online

eTU online is a e-newsletter for members and supporters who have registered their e-mail address with the union. It aims to keep you informed of the latest developments within your Union.

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Newsletter Archives

In This Issue

1. New face at ETU
2. Productivity Leisure Days 2001
3. Grand Hyatt locks out maintenance workforce
4. ETU News Radio back from holidays
5. ETU Tasmania enters new era
6. Protect News
7. SPC maintenance workers get baked beans and spaghetti
8. CoINVEST News
9. Next Edition

There's a new face on the ETU reception desk, Florence, a trainee administration worker.

Florence started at the ETU in December 2000 and is undertaking a twelve-month traineeship through VICTEC. She will be attending Northern TAFE one day a week as part of the training programme.

2. Productivity Leisure Days 2001

Organiser David Mier reports on the introduction of Productivity Leisure Days in 2001:

" The outcome of the shorter hours campaign in early 2000 was an agreement that covers workers who are engaged in the commercial building sector of the Victorian building industry. This is delivered via the contracting industry enterprise agreement.

This agreement provides for the introduction of Productivity Leisure Days (PLDs) from January 2001. The agreed position is that there will be 9 PLDs in 2001 and a further 9 PLDs in 2002. PLDs will be introduced in conjunction with the current RDO system.

The parties agreed that from 2003 the number of PLDs will increase to 13. In consideration of this position in 2003, the parties agreed that the increase in wages for 2003 will be 3 per cent or CPI (for the preceding calendar year), whichever is the greater.

Commencing January 1 2001, employees will accrue .263 hours for each paid day of authorised ordinary hours of service on sites covered by the VBIA. Payment for PLDs will be made on the basis of time accrued. Where insufficient time has accrued, payment will be made only for the time accrued.

The calculation of the hourly rate will stay the same.

38 RDO weekends are fixed weekends on which no work will normally be scheduled.

The weekend prior to the PLD may be worked.

Flexibility in taking PLDs may be achieved by the employer, employees and the Union at a site level agreeing to change their PLDs to another agreed date within the work cycle. Agreement regarding the substituted day should be made at least 7 days prior to the date of the PLD."

The RDO, PLD and Christmas Annual Leave shutdown calendar has been agreed. Contact the ETU office or your Organiser to obtain a copy.

RDO calender available here

3. Grand Hyatt locks out maintenance workforce

Melbourne five star hotel, the Grand Hyatt, locked out maintenance workers at the hotel on January 19 after members rejected a proposed enterprise agreement. The workers, who are members of the ETU, CFMEU and AMWU were handed a 30-day lock out notice and were told they could return to work on individual contracts.

Members set up a picket line on the front steps of the hotel. Protest rallies of members from city job sites took place outside the hotel.

The company refused to negotiate with the unions and the protests continued over 5 days.

Eventually, the hotel called Union officials and a meeting of management, organisers and shop stewards took place. Agreement was reached and all members returned to work by Monday January 29. Agreement included a 15% wage increase back-paid to August 1, 2000.

The Union and members at the Hyatt would like to thank all those workers who attended protests and gave their support.

4. ETU News Radio back from holidays

The radio show is back on the air after a summer break. The show will commence on Wednesday February 7 at 6:30 am on 3CR 855 on the am band.

There will be a new line up of presenters this year and each week a new topic will be introduced.

Members are interested in participating in the programme should contact their organiser or Wes Hayes on 0417 552 775 or wes@etu.asn.au

5. ETU Tasmania enters new era

The CEPU - Electrical Division (Tasmania), formerly the Electrical Trades Union, has a new State Secretary.

Kevin Harkins was appointed State Secretary at the State Council meeting held in Hobart on January 19 this year.

Kevin will replace Allan Kenny who resigned after more than 20 years as an official with the CEPU.

Employers that normally deal with the CEPU can look forward to a very different style of negotiation under Kevin's leadership.

"The CEPU has lost a fair bit of respect from employers over the last few years, and we now intend to turn that around," Kevin said.

"There are many issues that have been left outstanding. I see the biggest problems existing within the Power Industry, especially Aurora, as well as the general Contracting Industry. Aurora have had the attitude of replacing permanent employees with contract staff at discounted rates."

Kevin has spent several years working in Tasmania on and off in the past, and has relocated with his family from Victoria to take up the new posting.

The Victorian Branch wishes Kevin well.

6. Protect News

Increase in VBIA Severance Rates

Many members receive severance which is paid at the Victorian Building Industry Agreement (VBIA) rate. This rate is increased every year on the October 1 by the preceding 12 months' CPI rate. Therefore, from the October 1 2000 the VBIA, severance rate increased from $47.40 per week to $49.00 per week. If you are still receiving the old rate for working on VBIA sites, please contact the Fund's Compliance Officer, Mike Symon on 8341 5555.

Entitlement to Severance Payments

The 2000 Victorian Contracting EBA provides severance payments for each week of employment, whether you are on a building site or not. Domestic works are exempt from severance. Severance is also payable for periods of authorised absence, which includes Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Long Service Leave and RDOs. Many employers are not aware of this and will not make payments for these periods. Under this agreement, Severance must be paid by the week; it cannot be split or pro-rated into days. The EBA severance rates in these EBAs remain unchanged. If you are unsure which rate you should be receiving, please contact Mike Symon on 8341 5555 to discuss the matter.

New Membership Cards

All members of Protect will receive a new membership card in late February. The new card will differ in that it will display both an ETU and a NECA Logo on the front. If you don't receive yours by March, contact Mike Symon.

Quarterly Statements

December quarter statements are due to be mailed to members in late February.

7. SPC maintenance workers get baked beans and spaghetti

Members at SPC Shepparton have secured a new enterprise agreement that will radically improve working conditions. The Union has been involved in negotiations since November 2000.

In the past management had failed to fulfil agreements made with the Union. This time around members are committed to resolving outstanding issues and claims.

The company made a number of unsatisfactory offers in the past couple of months, and members determined to take industrial action to pursue a proper agreement. That action included rolling stoppages and a ban on overtime. The overtime ban was put in place on the Australia Day weekend. Members enjoyed a rare weekend off during the fruit-canning season.

The company came back with a revised offer which included a

• 5% /5% /5% wage rise
• Paid meal breaks ("straight-eights")
• Improved new long service ie 13 weeks paid leave after 10 years and pro-rata at 7 years,
• An upgraded redundancy package
• Training /classification package
• Reduction in the annualised salary overtime hours
• Contractors /casuals agreement

and a mix of other benefits including general tightening of EBA clauses.

Members of the ETU, AMWU, CFMEU and AWU at SPC have achieved considerable improvement in employment conditions as a result of this agreement and it is thanks to the strong stand taken by the members.

8. CoINVEST News

Unions, including the ETU, who represent beneficiaries of the CoINVEST portable Long Service Leave scheme, have been negotiating with employers' representatives regarding improvements to CoInvest benefits.

The improvements sought include full 13 weeks' leave after 10 years' service and pro-rata after 7 years. Current entitlements are 13 weeks after 15 years.

Further benefits would include payment to the beneficiary's estate where the member died before 10 years' service was reached.

There will be a further meeting on February 20 to progress the matter.

If necessary, an Industry campaign will commence to assist in improvements to the scheme.

Thanks for reading this issue of eTU online. You'll receive your next issue on March 5.

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