16 June 2004 GUMBY PTY LTD  DAYLESFORD Negotiations for a new EBA have now been going on for five months. Following protected action restrictions placed on Gumby, the Company sought the assistance of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC). Commissioner Simmonds requested that AMIEU Secretary Graham Bird make himself available for discussions with Rod Hamann and Martin Cross.  There have been two meetings.  Gumby has rejected all proposals put by the Union, including simply rolling the current Agreement over for 12 months with no wage increase. Gumby has put the following proposal: 1. The current tally system be eliminated and be replaced by a "flexible" time work job package (37.5 to 40 hours per week). 2. "Flexible time" means that the stick time can commence one hour early on up to 2 days per week (the Company expects that this will be usually only one day per week).  When this occurs, there would be a corresponding number of days when a maximum of 6 hours sticking time would apply.  That is, one 8 hour stick time day means one 6 hour stick time day. 3. The current classifications would be eliminated and replaced by four competency levels.  The minimum payment for each level would be:  Level 1 $725 per week ($750 per week if only 1 evisceration person for line speeds up to 140 per hour)  Level 2 $625  Level 3 $575  Level 4 $500 (new untrained staff). 4. All current employees would be at least Level 3.  All current slaughts would be Level 1. (ie 9 people).  When one leaves, the number of Level 1 positions will not exceed 8.  There will be five Level 2 positions initially.  However when a current slaught (Level 1) leaves, there would be only eight  Level 1 and another Level 2 position created, making six Level 2.  The classification structure would then continue with a minimum of eight Level 1 and six Level 2.  One Level 2 position would be in the offal area.  The requirements for classification at Level 1, 2 or 3 would be agreed between the parties prior to the commencement of this proposal.  5. There would be a Volume incentive bonus of 10 cents per pig over 4,000 per week for existing employees; 5 cents per pig for new employees. 6. The Company has the sole right to determine the level of manning it feels is reasonable for product quality and worker safety. 7. The Company has the right to use up to three staff, supervisors, leading hands or inspectors on any day so long as the minimum number of Levels 1 and 2 are working. 8. The Company will create the position of "floater" where one to three members may move positions through the day as directed. 9. Level 1, 2 and 3 can man any position as directed where trained and competent to do so.  Current slaughts will not be asked to work in any position not currently worked by them. 10. The Company expects that there will be assistance between positions, eg. shaving will occur across a number of positions to save adding a person (shaving is greater than a set 2 strokes per pig) 11. There will be no RDOs. 12. Up to 18 individual days off per year taken from sick leave or annual leave can be scheduled with at least 1 week's notice. 13. All other clauses of the current agreement would remain.