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The Union has now met with Coles Management on three occasions to negotiate a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA). A Committee has been formed to join Graham Bird, Laurie Burley and Pat Pearce to negotiate on behalf of the Union:
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Committee Members Store Phone(Store) Phone(Home)
Gareth Cockshutt Richmond 9428 4938 9467 8873
Adam Eckersley Knox City 9801 5297 9723 2337
email adame93@hotmail.com
Andrea Gladman Lilydale 9739 7488 8711 3071
Luke Marrow Cranbourne 5996 7533 0415 220696
email jakko2002@hotmail.com
Peter Smedley Melton 9743 6288 9744 4914
Colin Vernon Hastings 5979 1303 5983 0302
email col.vern@bigpond.com.au
Judy Walliss Malvern 9824 5989 9509 8455
Chris Wialleton Airport West 9338 6895
Graham Yates Donvale 9876 1256 9842 6755
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Coles Management is represented by Angelo Yoannidis, Wayne Murraylee and Christine Davall.
The last meeting was Tuesday 26th November when negotiations came to a halt.
Redundancy Package
Coles refuse to negotiate an improved redundancy package. Coles' current policy is to close down meat rooms and replace fresh meat prepared in the meat room at the supermarket with gas flushed meat prepared off site.
Coles' negotiators have told the Union that a decision on the future of Coles meat rooms will be made 'very soon'. It was to be 'last week'. It may now be 'next week'. Perhaps it will be after Christmas.
In the meantime, Coles members see teams of workers measuring up their meat rooms. They see plans for refurbishment of supermarkets which exclude meat rooms. They have store managers telling them that meat room workers' time with Coles is limited.
Unless Coles Senior Management makes a public, definitive statement to the contrary, we can only assume that the half- witted decision to replace high quality fresh meat, properly prepared and served, with inferior quality gas-flushed meat prepared elsewhere will continue. And that the consequential loss of jobs for many long-serving loyal Coles workers will also continue.
These workers are entitled to an adequate redundancy package. Redundancy packages are not unknown within Coles. Senior management has had no problem giving themselves redundancy packages amounting to many millions of dollars. Millions have been given to failed executives to get rid of them.
The Union claim on behalf of our members is for a modest redundancy package, for people who will be without a job through no fault of their own, but who will suffer through the continuing incompetence of Coles senior management who persist in pushing a product that customers do not want.
The Union Claim
1. Redundancy:
4 weeks pay per year of service, uncapped;
Pay out of unused sick leave;
Long Service Leave after 5 years;
No restrictions on the taking of a redundancy package.
2. Wage increase of 6% per annum.
3. Paid parental leave.
4. Long Service Leave to be paid at the going rate including all applicable penalties.
5. Protection for those who agree to stay on in gas flushed stores.
Gas flush meat workers need to be protected in the next Agreement because it is clear that Coles management does not see their jobs as requiring skilled meat workers. We have already found stores in which the store manager assumes the role of gas flush meat manager at weekends to get the weekend penalties.
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The Company Offer
1. No negotiation on redundancy.
2. 3% increase per annum over the life of the 3 year Agreement.
3. Allowances to increase by the overall wage increase.
4. Parental leave for casuals after 12 months of regular and systematic employment.
5. Extend the coverage of the bereavement leave clause to include grandchildren and step parents.
6. Part time flex up (part time additional hours) clause as per Bi-Lo.
7. RDO's to be taken within 28 days of accrual.
8. Part time maximum hours to increase to 32 hours per week.
9. Changes to sick leave clause:
Notification of sickness before absence;
Requirement to provide evidence of sickness before or after a public holiday.
10. Changes to meal and rest breaks (incorporate Bi-Lo Letter of Understanding).
11. Introduction of limited tenure contracts (as per Bi-Lo).
12. Classification for Meat Department Managers to be paid 105% of the Butchers Rate.
13. Clause to encourage compliance with Food Handling and wearing OHS protective clothing.
14. Payment for all public holidays at 250%.
15. A new probationary clause of 3 months for new employees.
16. Allow employees to work up to 49% of their time, after discussion with AMIEU, in other parts of the store.
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The negotiating committee believes that it may be necessary for Coles workers to take action to secure an Agreement that properly protects them whatever decision Coles management may make in relation to the future of Coles meat sales.
The negotiating committee has authorized the Union to register a Notice of Initiation of a Bargaining Period in the AIRC. In the event that the committee is unable to make satisfactory progress towards agreement with Coles, this means that members will be entitled to undertake protected industrial action in support of their claim.
The Coles negotiators have indicated they will contact the Union next week. We await their response.
For further information contact Laurie Burley or Pat Pearce at the Union office, Jim Brittain on 0417 590889, John Pysing on 0417 593410 or members of the Committee as listed above.
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