Members at Costas Logistics demand to be heard
COSTAS LOGISTICS AGREEMENT UPDATE
Costas logistics is a cold storage facility in Melbourne’s West with two hundred NUW members and a proud history of union strength, good EBA outcomes and a respectful relationship with management. The facility distributes a range of products; predominately the fruit and vegetables sold in COLES supermarkets.
Early in 2011 NUW members at Costa logistics prepared for the renegotiation of their EBA through surveys and mass meetings.
The company then approached the union and asked that negotiations be put on hold until August so as the company can confirm whether a major contract would be extended. In good faith the members agreed to this and decided to wait.
The company then approached the union in August requesting that NUW members do not attempt to negotiate an agreement, instead the company offered a wage increase of 4% until May 2011 though there would be no changes to the agreement.
NUW members voted overwhelmingly at mass meetings not to accept the offer as they believed their employment to be in jeopardy and wanted to negotiate around their redundancy entitlements, a termination payment for long term casual workers if they were to lose their jobs, and conditions regarding relocation to other workplaces.
A log of claims was issued to the company and members and delegates prepared for negotiations. Over several weeks the Union attempted to arrange dates and times for negotiations though the company refused to discuss any of the claims.
On Wednesday 3rd November, the NUW applied to Fair Work Australia to vote on taking protected industrial action. Costa’s lawyers argued that they did not want to negotiate with their members even though they were given two options: A. not bargaining with the NUW and members being granted permission to vote on industrial action, or B. meeting with the NUW.
The outcome was that the company will meet with the NUW three times over the next fortnight to discuss the log of claims. The NUW reserves the right to reappear in Fair Work Australia at the end of that fortnight if they feel the negotiations are not making any meaningful progress. They will then once again apply for the right to take a protected action vote.
The members at Costas deserve to be able to have their claims and concerns acknowledged by the company and will be doing this at the upcoming meetings, stay tuned for regular updates of the members’ progress.
