AMIEU Newsletter Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2002 No 2
Attention!

All Meat room Butchers, Packers, Apprentices and Cleaners.

Pending Victory to Safeway Workers (Woolworths) in Victoria

As a result of a courageous battle waged by the AMIEU Victorian Branch and their Safeway members a break through has occurred where the Victorian Branch officials are now in a position to recommend a negotiated agreement for their members consideration.

The essential issues in dispute have been resolved to the Unions satisfaction - they include:

The removal of the "slicer" classification

The retention of all their existing penalty rate provisions -( a concession was made on Public Holiday rates from 300% down to 250% - the WA existing rate for work performed on a public holiday is 250%)

No change to the current span of hours clause

The agreement is not conditional on a "savings clause" - which would put new employees on less favourable conditions than existing employees

No change to the sick leave penalty provisions

Pay increase of 3.5% per annum (10.5% over 3 years) for a 3 year agreement - In WA the company would only offer a 2 year agreement.

no Junior Rates workers in the meat rooms

The company have issued instructions to all store managers to read a notice to all Meat Unit staff.

In the opening paragraph there is a suggestion that Union Organisers may have been "misleading or confusing our staff".

It is reprehensible for the company to suggest this - especially given that at the time the company was distributing this "notice", the Union was seeking permission from the company to include the Woolworths Offer (the one in which the company sought the Union to sign) with our newsletter. The company claim that we did NOT have permission to circulate their document to our members!

It is definitely NOT the Union who is seeking to "mislead or confuse staff"!

The company expressed concern at a meeting with the Union on 23/09/2002 about informing our members on what was happening in Victoria - given the developments and break through made over there - perhaps it is not too surprising that they would not want you to know about it.

This Union makes no apologies for keeping our members fully informed and will continue to do so - that way any decision taken by our members will be on the basis of having all the relevant facts.

Unity is Strength - Support your fellow workers and protect your conditions of employment!