EBA meeting updates

AGREEMENT UPDATE 23 January

Following the seven day waiting period, the formal vote for the Costa Logistics- NUW EBA took place on Friday 20th.

Members voted overwhelmingly to support the document which includes all the changes discussed in this section.

The company have agreed to pay backpay and sign on bonuses as follows.

• $400 Coles vouchers: paid before Christmas
• $1000 (or one weeks wage – whichever is highest) to be paid by the 27th of January, and
  
• Backpay (including 1 additional month) to be paid by the 3rd of February.

 

The agreement now needs to be certified by Fair Work Australia, this process may take up to two months, all members will be notified when this is completed.

AGREEMENT UPDATE 19 December

On Friday 16th the NUW received a final offer from Costa Logistics on the condition it be accepted or declined by the close of business that day. The new offer included all the points of previous offers in addition to those listed below.

An extraordinary meeting was called to have the offer discussed and voted on.

The key changes to the new offer included a commitment from the company providing security regarding the change of contract to the nearby Polar Fresh site and additional payments.

The company undertook to provide the NUW with a letter stating:

• No employee will be forced to be redeployed to Polar Fresh
• Those employees who do not accept redeployment to Polar Fresh will be offered ongoing employment at Costa Logistics Derrimut
• Any future redundancies will be carried out in accordance with the Derrimut EBA.

The offer also included

• An extra months backpay
• An increase from $200 worth of vouchers to $400 worth of vouchers.

 

The offer was accepted by an overwhelming majority. A final draft of the agreement will now be prepared with a formal vote on the draft to take place over the next few weeks.

 

The NUW would like to thank the delegates for all their hard work, particularly during stressful and trying times. We’d also like to wish all the members and their families a Merry Christmas. Following the formal vote on the agreement the Union will shortly commence working with members, Costas, and Polar Fresh to ensure the best outcomes for members during the transition of the work to Polar Fresh. 

 

AGREEMENT UPDATE 15 December

In mass meetings on today members voted to reject the latest company offer as listed below. The main difference to the offer was an increased wage offer of 4% for the entire year.

The protected action ballot continues and will be counted at 4am on Saturday morning.  Details of any future meetings regarding the vote outcome will be released soon.

REVISED OFFER      

 

• 12 month agreement to expire 30th  September 2012

 

Sign on Bonus:

• Applies to all employees who have been at the site longer than 6 months
• Payment of $1000 or one weeks average wages (whichever is greater)

Flexibility Agreement:

• A person has the right to refuse or end a flexibility agreement at any time
• Union delegates must be notified upon the request for a flexibility agreement
• A flexibility agreement cannot be made a condition of employment for new employees
• No persons flexibility agreement is able to have a negative effect on another worke

Redundancy:

• The company will seek volunteers first
• No changes to the redundancy entitlements

 

• $200 gift voucher.

 

• 4% wage increase

 

• Wages to be back-paid from October 1st.
  

UPDATE: DECEMBER 14TH

 

After several hearings in Fair Work Australia (FWA) the Australian Electoral Commission will be conducting a vote for protected action this week. Voting is taking place in the meeting room. The dates and times are as follows:

 

• Tuesday          13/12/11    11.00am – 12.00noon & 7.00pm – 8.00pm
• Wednesday    14/12/11    3.00am – 4.00am
• Friday               16/12/11    11.00am – 12.00noon & 7.00pm – 8.00pm
• Saturday          17/12/11    3.00am – 4.00am

 

 

Following a vote to decline the previous company offer the company have revised their position. This position will be discussed and put to a vote on:

 

Thursday 15th of December 5:00am & 1:30 pm.

 

Below is a copy of the previous company offer from December 6.

 

Costa Logistics EBA offer December 6

 

After continually meeting with the company for the past six weeks the most recent offer is as follows:

 

• 12 month agreement to expire 30th September 2012
• 3% pay increase for the first 6 months
• 1% pay increase for the second 6 months  (this takes the total to 4%)
• Wages will be backpaid from October 1st
• All employees who have been working at the site longer than 6 months are to receive a once off ‘sign on’ bonus of one weeks average wages or $1000 (whichever is highest)
• $200 Coles gift voucher
• The flexibility term to be included in the agreement will restrict the ability of management and flexibility agreements may only be entered into with union delegates being notified. A person has the right to refuse a flexibility agreement at any time, and they cannot be made a condition of employment
• Redundancy entitlements remain as they are in the current agreement.

 

 

MEETING 1 summary

NUW Delegates and your Organiser met with Management and HR first the first time to discuss the log of claims.

The company provided a response to all the NUW claims. The key issues discussed were:

• The length of the agreement.

The company held its position that they seek to have a rollover that expires in may, the NUW position is that the agreement should be for at least a 1 year period.

• Wage increase.

The company maintained its position that a 4% increase is adequate. The NUW claim for a 5% increase stands.

• Redundancy.

Volunteers first – the company agreed to a system of voluntary redundancy before any forced redundancy.

Lights out payment –The NUW proposed a payment of $5000 or 4 weeks pay (whichever is the highest) for permanent employees who remain with the company for the full notice period in the event of being notified that they are being made redundant.

Increased redundancy payment – The company maintain their position that the current redundancy entitlements are already generous. The NUW have reduced their position with a claim for 4.5 weeks payment per year of service capped at 90 weeks. The NUW also seeks an increase in the redundancy entitlements for those employees who have been employed for less than five years. The NUW also requests that all unused personal leave be paid out, the claim has been reduced to 50% of all unused personal leave.

• Saturday loading.

The NUW have requested that the Saturday loading be increased from 165% to 170%.

The company have said they will be preparing a draft agreement with their position on all the claims to be made available at negotiations on Thursday. Once this is received it will be examined and the different positions of the company to the NUW will be made available to the members for their considerations. Negotiations will take place on Thursday 10th and Tuesday the 15th.

Stay tuned for further info…….