Industrial disputes & news - 31 July 2024

Nine; Vic biomedical engineers; Ambulance Victoria; RMIT; Saputo; Victoria Police; Cross River Rail; Ampol; Pernod Ricard; Ausgrid; Fire & Rescue NSW; Toowoomba City Council; Transgrid; Sherrin

MEAA - Nine

At the time of writing, MEAA members at Nine’s Publishing division were in the midst of their 5 day strike. MEAA requested that for the duration of the strike, that supporters do not purchase the papers or click on any links from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, The Brisbane Times and WA Today. This edition of Disputes Report will not use any Nine sources or link to any Nine articles. The strike at Nine comes during their EBA negotiations where Nine have offered a substandard 3.5% pay offer. Workers in the publishing division are also facing major redundancies. Along with decent pay and saving jobs, workers are also fighting for “ethical and transparent use of Artificial intelligence” and a fair deal for freelancers. The MEAA has set up a strike fund to support insecure workers taking action.

Professionals Australia - Biomedical engineers

Biomedical engineers in Victorian public hospitals commenced industrial action for the first time in a decade on Tuesday (30/7). The engineers had originally accepted the government’s wages policy mandated 3% per year increase, but after seeing nurses and midwives win more than the wages policy, withdrew that acceptance. Biomedical engineers, who install, repair and maintain specialist medical equipment will be undertaking a number of work bans including refusing to repair medical equipment; not testing or trialling new medical equipment; not using personal phones or vehicles for work; and not sending or submitting written reports. There are only approximately 100 biomedical engineers in Victoria’s public hospitals. This dispute shows the importance of larger unions, like the ANMF, taking a strong position in negotiating wages and conditions to help buoy smaller unions and groups of workers in their campaigns for a decent pay rise. 

VAU - Ambulance Victoria

Paramedics at Ambulance Victoria have been in negotiations for a new agreement for 18 months. While ambos are fighting for improvements to wages, conditions, better rural resourcing and incentives for longevity in the job, the key issue in the dispute is around involuntary overtime. The VAU rallied outside Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas’ office last week, and over 97% of members passed a vote of no confidence in Ambulance Victoria’s Executive.

NTEU Vic - RMIT (VE)

Workers in the Vocational Education section of RMIT commenced a two week strike on Thursday (25/7) which will run until 7 August. Workers are frustrated that over 900 days have passed since their EBA expired. An analysis by the NTEU of the management’s offer in March showed it to be subpar and it was rejected by workers. FWC facilitated bargaining conferences will commence on August 5. Many workers in vocational education, including those at RMIT, have to work multiple jobs to eke out a living. 

CEPU Tasmania/AMWU - Saputo

Workers at Saputo have now been on strike for two months at the Burnie factory. The dispute centres on the workers’ fight for pay parity with their mainland colleagues. At the start of the dispute, mainland Saputo workers were paid up to 23.5% more than Tasmanian workers. As the mainlanders have now had a payrise, the discrepancy in wages has now grown to 25%.

TPAV - Victoria Police

In a surprising turn of events, 57% of cops voted to reject the in-principle agreement reached between TPAV and the government which included a 16% payrise of 4 years; an extra 22 days off a year; and a move to a controversial 9 day fortnight with 9 hour shifts. This sends everyone back to the negotiating table. It is unclear at this stage if industrial action will resume, and whether is could spell the end of the 9 day fortnight/9 hour shifts. 

CFMEU QLD - Cross River Road

Industrial action continues on the Cross River Rail job in Brisbane, causing more delays to the already delayed and over-budget project. In the latest incident in the dispute, a labourer who was working for labour hire company Rocktown, has been sacked for refusing to cross the picket line.

TWU - Ampol airport refuellers

Industrial action at Sydney airport has been avoided after Ampol came back to the negotiation table at the 11th hour with “significant improvements” to pay and job security. Ampol’s airport refuellers were planning to take industrial action today with 6 hours of stoppages anticipated. EBA negotiations have been in progress for 6 months with over 14 meetings between the TWU and Ampol; and the union even dropping several claims. TWU and Ampol will hold further meetings on Friday (2/8), where the TWU hopes a resolution to this dispute can be reached.

UWU - Pernod Ricard

Workers at a wine production facility in the Barossa run by wine giant Pernod Ricard are undertaking industrial action.  Workers held a 4 hour stoppage last Wednesday (24/7) and commenced a 24 hour stoppage yesterday (30/7). Workers are in the middle of EBA negotiations but the acquisition of Pernod Ricard’s Australian businesses by Accolade Wines earlier in the month has left workers feeling uncertain about their future. Workers are fighting for a fair wage increase to keep up with the cost of living. Pernod Ricard issued a statement claiming the industrial action would have “no material impact on our business” - sounds like someone wants some more strikes! 

ETU - Ausgrid

Following a breakdown in negotiations, workers at Ausgrid will commence industrial action on Thursday (1 August) with stoppages, overtime bans, switching bans and locking bans. Workers are seeking 8% annual increases over the 3 year agreement. Ausgrid’s counter offer was 7% in the first year, and 2.7% in the second and third years which is not acceptable. Ausgrid is the third major power company in NSW in dispute, joining Transgrid and Endeavour Energy. 

AMWU NSW & ACT -  Fire and Rescue NSW

Maintenance workers at Fire and Rescue NSW held a 1 hour stoppage last Wednesday (24/7). Workers aren’t happy with the current wae offer for government. They missed out on wage increases during the height of the COVID pandemic, and are now fighting for a decent wage increase to keep up with the cost of living.  Workers have warned that if a better offer isn’t forthcoming, they will continue with industrial action.

The Services Union - Toowoomba CIty Council 

Workers at the Toowoomba City Council commenced industrial action last Thursday (25/7) rallying outside City Hall. Workers are fighting for  decent pay increase to keep up with the cost of living, action to address the gender pay gap, and for management to deal with a recruitment/retention crisis. It is understood more industrial action will take place soon. 

ETU NSW -  Transgrid

Workers at Transgrid have rejected the latest substandard offer from management so the dispute continues. The ETU held a rally on Monday (29/7) at the 24/7 protest camp outside Transgrid HQ in Ultimo. The dispute continues.

UWU - Sherrin

And to finish up, a win! For the workers who make Sherrin footballs, the threat of industrial action was enough to win workers a 10% pay increase over 2 years.

That’s all I’ve got this week. Quite a sizeable report! I was a bit crunched for time, so haven’t included some ongoing disputes that didn’t appear to have major updates, but if anyone from Wilmar sugar or Ventia or any NSW public sector nurses/midwives are reading - please get in touch if there are significant updates I’ve missed this week. And as always, if a dispute is kicking off in your workplace or industry - let me know!

In solidarity, Sarah