Union Fees Must Rise Ticket Price The Committee of Management has resolved to increase membership fees from $5.75 to $6.50 per week, or from $149.50 to $169.00 per half year, commencing 1st January 2003. The ticket price includes a 10%GST which the Union is forced to collect on behalf of the Howard Government.    This tax was previously partially absorbed. This is the first increase in the cost of a ticket for 3 years.  Membership of the AMIEU remains lower than the fee charged by most other Unions. Government Attack The Victorian Branch of the AMIEU has borne the brunt of the Howard Government-inspired attack on meatworkers and their conditions. We have been forced to spend very large sums of money in legal fees defending our members' conditions: first at O'Connors Pakenham; and currently at Catalfamo & Cabral's Tasman Group at Brooklyn and Kyle Road North Altona. Benefits Vigorous defence of these disputes is not only of vital importance to those workers directly affected, it also benefits all other meat workers by assisting them to keep their current conditions. Tribunals As well as these major industrial disputes there are many other issues that previously may have been resolved in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) but are now forced to other tribunals or Courts where legal representation is required.  Service The Committee of Management believes that the increase is essential if the Union is to continue to provide the level of service that the AMIEU has provided to its members for many years.  These services include: o       Representation when dealing with employers on any industrial matters both in the workplace and in the appropriate tribunals; o       Job security through representation in unfair dismissal proceedings in the Industrial Commission; o       Assistance and advice on all health and safety issues in the workplace and the election of health and safety officers; o       Representation and advice on all WorkCover matters; o       Regular newsletters, Union journal 'The Meatworker', and information on our Victorian Branch Web Site with  links to many other useful sites; o       Access to legal services through the Union office including a free will-making service; o       The Union's own Superannuation Fund, the Meat Industry Employees Superannuation Fund (MIESF).  This fund provides the service that Union members and their families deserve.  Its earnings in 2002 were in the top 5% of industry funds and from 2003 will include Death Cover of $100,000. o       Representation and confidential advice on discrimination and sexual harassment. o       Negotiation of Enterprise Agreements.  Wages and conditions in non-unionised works have fallen behind those with Enterprise Agreements negotiated for workers by workplace representatives and their Unions.    Members Must Be Financial The COM has also resolved that the services provided by the Union will not be made available to workers who chose not to be financial members.  It has also resolved that the Union will not continue to represent members who do not continue to pay their membership fees. Payment of Fees If your employer refuses to deduct your Union membership fee, payment is available by direct debit from your account, which means that the membership fee of $6.50 per week can be deducted directly from the members nominated account.    Direct Debit forms are available from the Union Office or through the Union. Your Victorian Organisers   Graham Bird                      Secretary,                                             Organiser for George Weston Foods (Don)    Paul Davey                        Assistant Secretary,                                        Organiser for  EMP, Larberg,  Castricum, Gathercole Carrum   Gwynnyth Evans                 WorkCover, Occ. Health & Safety   Jim Brittain (Warrnambool) Western District, Northern regions            Phone  5561 2282                                                                                                   Mobile 0417 590889   Laurie Burley                     Retail Organiser                                    Mobile 0418 103627   Paul Conway                     Geelong, Colac, Kyneton regions              Mobile 0409 381332   Pat Pearce                        Retail Organiser                                     Mobile 0417 328854   Collin Ross                       Gippsland, Eastern regions                      Mobile 0417 593410 SAFEWAY The new Safeway Agreement, certified on 10th December 2002, is for three years. Wage Increase It includes wage increases of 3.5% per annum.  The wage increase will be back paid to 23rd September 2002. Penalty Payments Safeway workers need to remember that the new Agreement maintains all penalty payments for working after 6pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays and Sundays.  New Workers The Company proposal to have newcomers work for less at these times was defeated. Current members have secured their conditions for all new Safeway meat room workers. Make sure that all Safeway workers in the meat rooms, including new employees, are in the Union.