Common Rule Awards
Tuesday October 19, 2004
Are you eligible for better wages and conditions?
Do you work in Warehousing and Distribution; Food, Rubber or Plastic manufacturing?
Do you know if you are currently covered by a Federal Award?
If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, there is every chance you’re in for a new year’s surprise.
Come January 1, 2005 350,000 Victorian workers currently not under a Federal Award, will be covered by Common Rule Awards.
What does this mean – basically you will receive all the same mentioned rates of pay and conditions as your counterparts who are covered by a Federal Award.
On average workers not covered by Federal Awards earn less than those who are.
For example a forklift driver who currently earns around $13.78 per hour (inclusive of any overtime, nights and weekends worked) would be eligible for a minimum hourly rate of $14.37 plus penalties and shift rates under a Common Rule Award.
For casual workers the difference is even more significant with a forklift driver likely to earn almost $3 an hour more under the Common Rule Award.
Non-Federal Award workers have just five minimum employment conditions including: an hourly rate, sick leave, carers leave, annual leave (no loading), unpaid parental leave and bereavement leave.
Those covered by Federal Awards have 20 minimum standards mentioned including the likes of: shift loadings, overtime rates, public holiday penalties, allowances, annual leave loading and higher hourly rates.
Come January 1, 2005 you will be eligible for all of that.
Common Rule Awards are the culmination of 12 years work by the NUW and other unions to repair the damage done by the Kennett Government’s decision to abolish the state award system in 1992.
The NUW moved swiftly to have as many of its Members as possible transferred to Federal Awards; however there are still Victorian workers in the industries we support who have no Award protection.
This will all change on New Year’s Day.
What do you need to do to access these new wages and conditions? NOTHING.
The change will automatically occur on January 1, 2005.
However, the best way to ensure that you receive EVERYTHING you are entitled to is to join the NUW.
The other crucial thing you need to be aware of in the lead up to January 1, 2005 is that workers who sign Individual Workplace Agreements MAY NOT be eligible for Common Rule Awards.
So it is important that you DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING between now and January 1, 2005. Do not sign away the rights people like you have fought 12 years to have returned.
This is a big deal not only for Victorian workers, but for employers as well. No longer will companies be able to undercut their rivals simply because they are not a signatory to a Federal Award and therefore can pay below Award rates.
It is a win, win for everyone.
If you’re not sure if you, or someone you know, is eligible for the new Common Rule Awards, call the NUW today on 1800 136 112, or email us at commonrule@nuw.org.au.
We’re here to help you and ensure you get the best possible wages and conditions.
New Year, New Wages, New Conditions … Now You’re Laughing.
Last modified 2005-05-02 05:04 PM
