Negotiations

The Union negotiating Committee comprising Graham Bird, Laurie Burley, Pat Pearce, Bob Savine, Sue Sheldrick and Steve Casini has met with BiLo/Coles management on three occasions.

As a result of these negotiations the Committee has agreed to recommend to BiLo members that the BiLo Agreement be renewed for 3 years in the same terms as the Coles Agreement which was ratified on 14th March 2003, following overwhelming endorsement by the Coles members.

Changes to Agreement

The proposed changes to the BiLo Agreement are:

1. Agreement to be for 3 years.

2. Pay increase: 3.5% from 15/3/2003;
3.5% from 15/3/2004;
3.5% from 15/3/2005.

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. RDO's to be taken within 28 days of accrual.

7. Part-time maximum per week to increase to 32 hours.

8. Changes to sick leave clause ie notification of sickness before absence.

9. Requirement to provide evidence of sickness before or after a public holiday.

10. Changes to meal and rest breaks.

11. Insert classification for Meat Dept. Managers to be paid a minimum of 105% of the butchers rate.

12. Clause to encourage compliance with Food Handling and wearing OHS protective clothing.

13. Introduce new probationary clause of 3 months for new employees.

14. After discussion with the AMIEU, allow employees to work up to 49% of their time in other parts of the store.

15. All public holidays worked by employees to be paid at 250% with additional penalties for public holidays falling on a weekend.

16. RDO's for Meat Dept. Managers in large and medium stores to commence 3 months from certification of Agreement.

This is a very good result for BiLo members.

It is a particularly good result for BiLo Meat Managers. As a result of the Union's negotiating ability, Meat Managers will receive a Rostered Day Off for the first time.

The Union looks forward to 100% membership for Meat Managers.

The Union urged BiLo members to vote for their new Agreement, which safeguards your conditions for another three years.

Members voted by Friday 11th April 2003.

The majority voted in favour of the EBA