EBA Negotiations start in Coles Myer and BiLo

Meeting

The Union and Coles Management met on Tuesday 15th October to commence discussions for a new Enterprise Agreement. Coles was represented by Christine Davall and Angelo Ionnidis. Representing the Union were AMIEU Secretary Graham Bird and Organisers Laurie Burley and Pat Pearce.

Bi-Lo

Coles are keen to negotiate the Coles and Bi-Lo Agreements at the same time, although they wish them to remain separate documents with separate commencement dates. The current Coles Agreement expires in November 2002, Bi-Lo is current until April 2003.

Union Priorities

The Union said that its priorities were a wage increase, and given Coles policy of closing down meat rooms and replacing them with cabinets of gas-flushed meat, an improved redundancy package.

Safeway Result

The Union has recently concluded an Agreement with Safeway. Those negotiations involved our Safeway members taking strike action over a period of two weeks. The result was:

1. The Agreement to be for three years.

2. Pay Increase: 3.5% from 24/09/2002

3.5% from 24/09/2003

3.5% from 24/09/2004

3. 250% for Public Holidays to be worked on a voluntary basis.

4. Shift Allowances to no longer apply.

5. Ordinary spread of hours Monday to Friday 5am to 6pm.

6. Parental Leave for casuals in line with Federal Test Case.

7. Agreement to negotiate the redundancy clause if it becomes an issue.

Coles Claim

Now Coles want what Safeway Management could not achieve. Coles major claim is for:

1. Ordinary hours of work and applicable penalties to be as follows:

Monday to Friday 6am to 9pm. no penalty

Saturday 6am to 5pm. 50%

Sunday 7am to 5pm 75%

2. Remove the provision which requires that all junior Cabinet Attendants be paid at the adult rate.

3. Exclude disputes concerning termination of employment from the dispute resolution clause.

They also have a further 19 demands of varying significance.

Coles negotiators refuse to reveal what wage increase they are prepared to offer.

Negotiating Committee

The Union has advised Coles it would follow its normal course and form a negotiating committee comprising Union Officials and a representative group of Coles and Bi-Lo members.