Industrial disputes & news - 11 December 2024
Woolworths; Lineage; Ausgrid; Sydney Trains; Dnata; Trade Unions for Democracy Summit
Surprise! I said there wouldn’t be a report this week, but given some significant things happened I thought I would provide a quick report on a few key items, with a more comprehensive catch up next week.
UWU - Woolworths
After 17 days on strike, workers at 4 Woolworths distribution centres in NSW and Victoria voted to endorse a deal and go back to work. The vote came one day after the FWC issued orders for UWU to stop obstructive picketing outside distribution centres. In spite of the FWC order, workers from other unions maintained the picket until UWU members had the opportunity to vote on next steps. The deal includes wage increases of around 11% over 3 years. However, UWU has stated that wages were not the main object of the action, but dealing with the performance management “Framework”. While the Framework has not been scrapped, an additional clause has been added “that ensures that the workers will not be disciplined for the speed that they can work at, and an acknowledgement that not everybody can pick at 100%”. There has been no reporting on the union’s demand for a national agreement for Woolies’ distribution centres, so I suspect that battle will need to be carried over to the next round of EBA negotiations. The fight over the “Framework” is a warning to workers everywhere about the implications of AI and surveillance technology, a fight that will come to every workplace. Call centre workers have long had their days monitored in minute increments, but AI can now screen calls for “tone”; some construction industry agreements now include “electronic site access control” clauses that allow the capture of workers’ images; and for writers and artists, AI has the ability to “read” their work; and then render workers redundant. For the workers at Woolies: will the additional clause be enough to blunt the “Framework” and how will workers continue to organise against its safety concerns? It is also worth noting that the SDA, which has a small number of members at the Melbourne South Distribution Centre endorsed the Woolies’ deal well before UWU; but the continued pressure of UWU members is what got the additional clause about the “Framework” - the highest priority issue for their members. The SDA’s notoriously cosy relationship with Woolworths retail wing, is now attempting to leach into the warehouses which have long been the domain of UWU (and its predecessor union the NUW). UWU will have to continue fighting on two fronts - for safe and fair working conditions for their members, and against an SDA incursion.
UWU - Lineage
Workers at Lineage, who are part of the Woolies supply chain and also clocked up 17 days on strike, have endorsed a new agreement including a pay increase averaging around 4.7% in the first year, and 3% increases in subsequent years; a $1500 sign on bonus; union rates for casuals; and improvements to the classifications structure, allowances and overtime penalties. The additional pressure on Woolworths from Lineage workers was undoubtedly helpful for UWU members simultaneously on strike at Woolies distribution centres.
ETU NSW - Sydney Trains
Last Thursday (5/12), ETU members at Sydney Trains walked off the job. Despite 2 weeks of intensive negotiations, ETU State Secretary Allen Hicks said “the government has thrown workers’ needs under the bus and stubbornly refused to make progress towards a deal that recognises the skills, work and experience of Sydney Trains members.” The NSW government won a hearing in the Federal Court on Sunday night (8/12) issuing an interim restraining order to have all protected industrial action from the Combined Rail Unions (CRU) stopped, but delays and cancellations continued on Monday and Tuesday without union industrial action.
ETU NSW - Ausgrid
The ETU reached an in-principle agreement with Ausgrid last Wednesday (4/12). The agreement includes a 7% pay increase in the first year, and 3% (or CPI, whichever is greater) in the second and third years, as well as improved allowances. The big win for workers in the deal is guaranteed role progression, with workers set to move up one pay band in the first year of the agreement, and another band in the second year. Many workers have not moved pay bands since Ausgrid was privatised in 2016. Unfortunately, the Christmas party appears to still be off - but definitely some wins worth celebrating in this deal. Workers will vote on the deal on December 18.
TWU - Dnata
Ground handlers at dnata were due to commence 24 hours of strike action this morning, but an in-principle agreement has been reached between the TWU and Dnata. The agreement includes an 11% increase over 2 years; a maximum of 6 rostered consecutive shifts; minimum 48 hour rest periods and 7 days notice of rostering changes.
Trade Unions for Democracy Summit
On Monday (9/12), 80 representatives from 9 trade unions participated in the “Unions for Democracy Summit”. A media release following the Summit outlined the key achievements of the Summit as the formation of a Unions for Democracy Organising Committee; endorsement of annual summits (with 2025’s summit to be held early next year); condemnation of the CFMEU forced administration and the adoption of a charter outlining “shared values, commitment to union democracy, growing the union movement, both in membership and influence, while addressing challenges in industrial relations laws and advocating for broader social and economic justice.” I have not had a confirmation of the 9 unions involved, but it seems safe to assume participants included the ETU, Plumbers Union, CFMEU Construction & General Division; MUA and AMIEU. As for the other 4 unions involved… my best guess would be UFU, AMWU Victorian Branch, RTBU and AFULE- but that is not confirmed. Taking place on the eve of the High Court challenge against the forced administration of the CFMEU (more on that next week), the Summit was dominated by former and current officials, with minimal rank and file attendance, and by the looks of photos posted online, not many women either. It remains to be seen what advocating for greater democracy in our unions and growing the movement will look like without substantial participation from rank and file workers - including women, and workers from non-blue collar unions.
CFMEU Organiser - CFMEU Administration
Esther Van Arend, an organiser in the CFMEU’s Victorian branch was sacked by the Administrator, Mark Irving for alleged “menacing conduct”. It is understood Van Arend gave Nick McKenzie, the lead journalist on the “Building Bad” trial-by-media, a piece of her mind when the two crossed paths at a cinema. Apparently Van Arend was dismissed by Irving without an opportunity to tell her side of the story. Workers will be gathering at the Fair Work Commission (11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne) this Friday at 12:30pm to protest the sacking of Esther. Please get along if you can.
Plenty of disputes missed this week, but I did just want to share these few updates. I am very interested to hear what other workers think about the Trade Union Summit for Democracy, so if you have any thoughts on that - please do get in touch. I’ll be back next week with a more comprehensive report!
In solidarity, Sarah