Industrial disputes & news - 17 July 2024
Bolton Clarke; SAE University College; Alpine Resorts Victoria; Tully Sugar Mill; Cross River Rail; NSW Nurses & Midwives; Serco; AFP; Transgrid; Ramsay Health Care; WA Public Sector workers; CFMEU
ANMF Victoria - Bolton Clarke
ANMF members employed by Bolton Clarke commenced industrial action on Monday. Bolton Clarke is Australia’s largest independent, not-for-profit aged care provider, the result of three organisations combining - the Royal District Nursing Service; RSL Care and Bolton Clarke Allity. Bolton Clarke have offered their workers an insulting 2% pay increase over the life of the agreement. Bolton Clarke have also not passed on the 15% Stage 2 aged care work value uplift (all other private and not for profit providers have). In order to push Bolton Clarke to a reasonable position on wages, industrial action will include wearing t-shirts; bans on collecting and recording data; writing chalk messages on cars and refusal to be redeployed. The Herald Sun published an article on Sunday saying that Bolton Clarke has threatened to lock out workers in response to this industrial action, this was denied by the employer and hasn’t materialised. The ANMF is asking for members of the public to sign a petition in support of these workers.
NTEU - SAE University College
Workers at SAE University College campuses around Australia took industrial action on Tuesday (16/7). Workers took 5 hours of strike action disrupting classes in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Byron Bay and Perth. Negotiations for an agreement have been underway for almost two years, and have now stalled over meaningful action on workload. Management offered an insulting increase of just 1 cent (yes, $0.01) over the minimum award rate - absolutely shameful behaviour.
AWU Vic - ARV
Workers at Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Mt Baw Baw alpine resorts took industrial action over the weekend. The key issue in the dispute is weekend penalty rates. The AWU has reported that the employer has attempted to bypass the union by presenting new proposals directly to members. The AWU is also commencing proceedings in the FWC against management for intimidating behaviour.
ETU QLD - Cofco Tully Sugar Mill
EBA negotiations at Tully Sugar have stalled. More than 90% of workers voted down the management offer of 14.25% over 3 years. The boss responded by threatening to lock out workers who have been undertaking protected industrial action. Management claims higher wage increases are not viable, yet the CEO said in a staff meeting that 30% of profits from the mill go directly back to China where Cofco is based. Workers want a fair deal that keeps up with the cost of living.
CFMEU QLD - Cross River Rail
The CFMEU started industrial action on the Cross River Rail job in Brisbane on Tuesday. Workers are demanding better conditions for labour hire workers and subcontractor contracts, and the introduction of industry-standard rostered days off. The union is also demanding a new heat-stress policy. One worker died and several others were hospitalised due to heat stress on the job over the summer.
NSWNMA - Public Health Sector Nurses & Midwives
A campaign update from members of the Log of Claims Committee on Thursday (11/7) advised that while some “slight” progress has been made on work life balance claims; there has been no movement on the 15% wage claim. In response, they asked all members to wear their campaign badge on Monday (15/7) and to check in on the NSWNMA app - a very nifty structure test. Stay tuned!
MUA WA & NT - Serco
Workers engaged under the Defence Maritime Support Services contract held by Serco at HMAS Stirling (WA) and HMAS Coonawarra (NT) walked off the job last Wednesday (10/7). Workers are seeking to be included in a new national enterprise agreement that keeps up with industry standards and achieves pay parity with the likes of Svitzer and Polaris.
AFPA - Australian Federal Police
AFPA have gained approval to ballot their members for protected industrial action again. In an escalation of available tactics, this time the ballot includes bans on non-essential paperwork and authorisations; protocol visits to embassies; non-operational briefings to Ministers; providing data to researchers; and “indefinite or periodic bans on attending any Federal Politicians functions or events that do not carry a ‘significant’ threat rating or higher than 14.” The dispute centres on pay. AFPA are not happy that the CPSU brokered APS-wide deal agreed to an 11.2% pay increase over 3 years, in return for flexibility and working from home arrangements - as the cops cannot work from home.
ETU NSW - Transgrid
The 24 hour picket outside Transgrid HQ continues. Please take the time to visit the workers at the picket if you’re in the area. 180 Thomas St, Haymarket (Ultimo).
NSWNMA - Ramsay Health Care
Nurses and midwives at Ramsay Health care commenced industrial action last week. Negotiations for a new agreement have been underway since March last year. Ramsay’s most recent offer of 11% over 3 years was voted down by 81% of workers. The NSWNMA is seeking an 18% increase over 3 years as well as staffing reforms; improvements to and protection of conditions; and increases to paid parental and personal leave. Industrial action at this stage includes wearing badges, distributing flyers and posting on social media. The union has not ruled out escalating to work bans and stoppages if a better offer isn’t made.
CPSU/CSA - WA Public Sector
As promised, CPSU/CSA members will continue their “Walk-out for wages” campaign in pursuit of a decent pay increase. Last week, the walk off focused on health and education department workers. Today, there will be another walk off in Perth at the Urban Orchard, as well as walk offs in regional areas. On Thursday there will be actions in Bunbury and Kununurra. And next week on 24 July a walk-out at the Mason Bird Building in Cannington which appears to house the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
CFMEU
It feels necessary to say something about the crisis at the CFMEU. I’m not going to trawl through the allegations posed by the Nine network, but these are my thoughts. The CFMEU has long been targeted by governments, media, business and some parts of the general population, and I think some of that is purely discomfort and disapproval of “uneducated” workers making a decent living and having better working conditions than most. Unions should, and must, manage their own affairs, clean up their own messes and sort their own shit out. This crucial work should be undertaken by union members, and any crisis in any union reminds us of the importance of real democracy within our unions. Any calls for deregistering the CFMEU must be challenged and resisted - workers have a right to organise in unions and this must be protected. Any threats to terminate EBAs because they are “CFMEU EBAs” must be resisted and rejected - this will only punish workers by lowering their conditions back to the award. Having a criminal record should not mean you are thrown on the scrapheap for eternity and are never allowed to work or join an organisation again. It would also seem that some folks need to be reminded about the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that sometimes accusations are just that - accusations. My solidarity is with construction workers who often work in difficult and dangerous conditions and deserve strong and effective union representation and the pay and conditions won by generations of workers.
People’s History of Australia
Finally, a quick plug for a great podcast! People’s History of Australia released a great episode this week about the Jobs For Women campaign at BHP’s Port Kembla Steelworks. Diana Covell, a founding member of the Jobs for Women campaign and a former steelworker at Port Kembla shares a detailed account of the campaign. Well worth a listen!
That’s all I’ve got this week. I am very curious to hear about the status of the dispute between Russell Corp and the workers who make Sherrin footballs… if you know, let me know!
In solidarity, Sarah