You will have or will be receiving your official ballot and return envelope to vote on managements proposed EBA. All members would have received a copy of the agreement which was emailed to you last week by the company. The ballot paper and reply envelope has be mailed to your home address.
 
The ETU encourage all members to read thru the proposed EBA thoroughly and consider how the agreement affects your workplace/workmates, you as an individual and your family. We also refer members to our previous notices outlining how well the company is performing as a result of your hard work and commitment – you can click here to read our previous notice.

Here are some facts to consider:

1. Due to the inability to set the maximum rostered week at 40 hours under the proposed agreement the company can refer to the award. Under the award a working week can be rostered with as many as 60 hours per week as long as the roster cycle (field technician - 8-10 weeks) maintains a 38 hour average per week. Wages can be adjusted according to rostered hours for any given week.
2. Away from home allowance will only be payed when working OUTSIDE YOUR COST CENTER.
3. Under the agreement it is possible that actual weekend earnings could fall as a result of reduced working hours.
4. During the EBA roadshows the company estimated the total value of the EBA package to be between circa $400,000, please read our earlier notice on just how well the company is performing.
5. The company estimates the rollout costs of GPS/AWS to exceed $2 MILLION DOLLARS. So the company is prepared to spend four time more on monitoring than investing in their people.

It is essential all members vote and it is up to you how you vote. Please submit your sealed vote directly to your delegate, unit manager or use the reply paid envelope.

It’s up to Members to Decide.

The ETU Will respect the view of members. If you vote to accept this agreement the ETU will be party to the agreement and we will continue to represent you in the workplace by making sure any new agreement is enforced.

If members vote to reject the agreement, we will return to the negotiating table with your negotiating committee/delegates and seek to secure an improved offer.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of your delegates or ETU Organiser Ben Lister on 0400 264 007 / benl@etunsw.asn.au

The NSW Branch of the ETU/CEP has donated $10,000 towards the fighting fund to support the 55 sacked CUB workers in Melbourne who are members of the ETU and the AMWU.

On top of this NSW construction industry members chipped in a further $2,000 out of their own pocket while an AMWU/ETU fundraiser last Wednesday night saw another $5,000 raised bringing the total to almost $20,000.

ETU Secretary Steve Butler said that the actions of CUB were un-Australian which is a far reach from a company that trades so heavily on what it is to be an Australian.

“As an act of solidarity these funds will be provided to help support the effected workers and assist their campaign for full re-instatement” said NSW Secretary Steve Butler.

“This is what being union is all about, standing united and supporting each other in times of need.”

“I have personally visited the picket line in Melbourne and I have meet these workers and understand what they are going through as a result of this bastard act from their employer.”

“I am proud of our membership in NSW for stepping up to the plate to support our brothers and sisters in Victoria during this dispute.” said Steve.

“I encourage all members, their families and friends to consider supporting other brands when next visiting the local bottle shop.” Steve said

ETU members are aware that we have been in negotiations for a new EBA that delivers improved pay and conditions. Members would also know that Aristocrat in recent years has hit the Jackpot so to speak, all you need to do is look at their performance over the past year, I have included this on the next page so members can understand exactly how well Aristocrat are doing.

After ONLY 3 EBA MEETINGS management have now told us that the next meeting, scheduled for 25 August, will be the final negotiating meeting. Rather than continue good faith negotiations management have said that they intend to circulate a new agreement for employees to vote on. So what are they offering? 

Aristocrat Can & Should Do Better…

In the past year Aristocrats share price has doubled. This has not been through management waiving a magic wand – this growth has been driven by the hard work and commitment from you, the workers.

Last year revenue grew by 47% to over $1 Billion and profits grew 53% to $372 million and on top of this shareholders received a 25% pay increase in their dividends.

So where to from here?

Through negotiations management and the union have been able to agree on some improvement such as Living Away from Home Allowance, Team Leader Allowance and we are working on options around personal use of work vehicles and cashing out of sick leave however nothing has been agreed to in these areas.

IT IS THE ETU’S POSITION THAT WE ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO SECURE A FAIR AND DECENT OUTCOME FOR MEMBERS. YOUR BARGAINING UNIT CONSIDER MANAGEMENTS OFFER TO BE DISINGENUOUS AND ON THE VERY LOW SIDE GIVEN THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL POSITON AND STRONG PERFORMANCE.

Members should take the time to update your details with the union to ensure you receive up to date information and any employee who is not currently a union member is encouraged to join. If you have any questions or would like to JOIN THE ETU, contact Ben Lister on 0400 264 007.

ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE NO SHOULD MANAGEMENT PUT OUT AN AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES THE LOW PAY INCREASES AND POOR CONDITIONS OUTLINED IN THIS NOTICE.

The ETU is supporting national rally's in all capital cities against Tony Abbott's China Free Trade Agreement that will see aussie workers worse off.

The China FTA allows Chinese companies investing more than A$150 million to import temporary workers without testing if local workers are available, and allows Chinese companies to sue our government for damages if changes to our laws have a negative impact on them.

A Parliamentary Committee is taking evidence about the China FTA over the next month. The ETU want to make your voice heard, by bringing our flags, banners and members together to send a message to the Australian Parliament that we do not support Abbott's China Free Trade Agreement.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Rally outside the Sydney Committee hearing, Friday 31 July, 12 noon, meet outside NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney and bring a friend.

You may have heard that just a few weeks ago Prime Minister Tony Abbott signed off on the China Free Trade Agreement that will allow Chinese based companies to import their own labour.

Abbott's free trade agreement also removes the requirement for mandatory skills assessment for ten occupations including: Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Automotive Electrician. ALL OTHER occupations will be reviewed within two years with the aim of reducing or eliminating the need for skills assessments.

The ETU is fighting to STOP THE CHINA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT by raising this as a public issue before two parliamentary committee's consider the issues. In order to come into effect these parliamentary committees must sign off on it.

TAKE ACTION TODAY - visit the Australian Unions website and email your MP

Apprentices are some of the most exploited workers and students in Australia. Most apprentices have stories of poor working conditions, unfair dismissal, and being paid below minimum wage.

At this free public forum you will hear from a number of speakers explaining what the state and federal government are doing. This will be your opportunity to tell the Greens and others what you want us to do to stop the exploitation and remove many of the difficulties you face.

Thursday 11 June, 6:30 pm
Club Ashfield, 1-11 Charlotte Street, Ashfield

Speakers include

• John Kaye, Greens NSW MP
• Lee Rhiannon, Greens Senator
• Rita Mallia, State President, Construction & General Division, NSW Branch CFMEU
• Phill Chadwick, President NSW TAFE Teachers Association
• Mark Burgess, National Apprenticeship Officer, Electrical Trades Union

All welcome. Refreshments to be provided.
RSVP to john.kaye@parliament.nsw.gov.au
For more information Ph: 9230 2668

Don't forget to like, join and share the facebook event here.

The ETU in partnership with EISS, NEW Law and RT Health are hosting a number of member information nights across the state commencing in June.

The first four information evenings will be held in NEWCASTLE, the CENTRAL COAST, SYDNEY and WOLLONGONG with a further eighteen meetings scheduled across the state.

ALL members from all industry sectors are invited to come along and hear from your leadership team about the challenges we face including industrial matters, campaigns and the latest developments in Superannuation.

Full details for the meetings in Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and Wollongong including times, dates and venues can be found HERE.

A full list of regional locations and dates can be found HERE. Once times and venues have been finalised for these locations we will notify members.

Food and drink will be served. If you wish to attend please RSVP to Joanne Crowder on 02 9267 4844 or joannec@etunsw.asn.au

COAG have announced that they have officially aborted the National Licensing model covering electrical and other trade based licenses. 

Following the outcome of extensive State-based consultation, the majority of States decided not to pursue the proposed National Occupational Licensing Scheme reform. Most jurisdictions identified a number of concerns with the proposed NOLS model and potential costs. States instead decided to investigate approaches that would increase labour mobility and deliver net benefits for businesses and governments.
 
To this end, States agreed to work together via the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) to develop alternative options for minimising licensing impediments to improving labour mobility and to manage the orderly disestablishment of the National Occupation Licensing Authority from early 2014.

Click here to read the full COAG statement.

Click here to read the letter from NSW Fair trading to the ETU NSW.

Members working for IGT Poker Machines would be aware of the discrepancies relating to the past payment for overtime and rostered on call periods.

To recap, the issue of past pay discrepancies was raised by members at IGT and as a result the union contacted management who appointed an “independent” auditor. Following an audit some members were advised that they in fact owed the company money from working overtime and on call – a situation that was just ridiculous.

Following the report from the “independent” auditor the ETU sought legal advice and discovered that their report is flawed and calculations incorrect.

The ETU met with management a month ago about this issue and proposed a number of remedies and the company gave an undertaking to consider the union’s proposal and get back to us.

IGT have now advised the ETU that they are recalculating the underpayments however, should the company return with an unsatisfactory outcome the union will apply to undertake an inspection of the wages book and take all action necessary to recoup what you are owed.  

On another matter IGT is now trying to impose a new roster which we know will simply not work. Under your award IGT must first get your agreement to implement these changes and for this reason we are advising member to follow clause 10 of the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2010, which says:

 10 Dispute Resolution

10.1 In the event of a dispute in relation to a matter arising under this award, or a dispute in relation to the NES, in the first instance the parties will attempt to resolve the matter at the workplace by discussions between the employee or employees concerned and the relevant supervisor. If such discussions do not resolve the dispute, the parties will endeavour to resolve the dispute in a timely manner by discussions between the employee or employees concerned and more senior levels of management as appropriate.

10.2 If a dispute about a matter arising under this award or a dispute in relation to the NES is unable to be resolved at the workplace, and all appropriate steps under clause 10.1 have been taken, a party to the dispute may refer the dispute to Fair Work Australia.

10.3 The parties may agree on the process to be utilised by Fair Work Australia including mediation, conciliation and consent arbitration.

10.4 Where the matter in dispute remains unresolved, Fair Work Australia may exercise any method of dispute resolution permitted by the Act that it considers appropriate to ensure the settlement of the dispute.

10.5 An employer or employee may appoint another person, organisation or association to accompany and/or represent them for the purposes of this clause.

10.6 While the dispute resolution procedure is being conducted work must continue in accordance with this award and the Act. Subject to applicable occupational health and safety legislation, an employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with a direction by the employer to perform work, whether at the same or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

Should our members NOT agree with the introduction of this new roster the ETU is available to assist in pulling together a roster that meets the needs of both our members and the company.