RTBU Newsletter for Pacific National Members October 11, 2002

PacNat Uniform Issue - Update - The Long and the Shorts of it

Since the last RTBU Newsletter on this issue, there have been some significant events. In this issue members will be brought up to date with all of those events.

Hunter Valley

Last weekend the weather in the Hunter Valley in NSW (Newcastle region) was unusually hot for this time of year. As members are aware, the uniform provided by the company back in July (Winter), is inappropriate for hot and uncomfortable conditions because the only choice of materials is that which is heavy, abrasive and of very poor quality.

A number of members at the Hunter Valley decided that they would wear shorts to work, in an effort to combat the uncomfortably hot conditions. Those members were immediately confronted by Management demanding that they wear the issued uniform on the following shift. Some refused and turned up again the next day wearing shorts. The end result was that some 53 RTBU members were issued with either verbal or written warnings, and 2 RTBU members were 'stood down' without pay.

Not only would Management not allow the members to wear shorts, they were also refused the right to any type of more suitable clothing for the weather conditions. They were told that the only clothing they were allowed to wear was the issued Pacific National uniform.

AIRC Hearing

The RTBU has been pro active in this dispute for a number of months now. We have constantly insisted that the company enter into consultation so that we may be able to relay to the company the issues that members have raised about the uniform.

All of this culminated in the RTBU and Pacific National appearing at the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, following a section 99 (Notification of a dispute) lodged by the RTBU late last week.

Following the Commissioner having heard both parties arguments on the issue, the Commissioner made a number of recommendations. ALL of those recommendations are detailed below:

• Pacific National should pay the two members who were 'stood down' without pay. Pacific National's lawyer argued against this recommendation, stating that they were concerned that if they had to pay the two members, the RTBU might tell the other members and there would then be a mass defiance of the companies policy.
• Members are to abide by the company's current uniform policy at least until the uniform review is completed. Members may have noticed that in the Pacific National Staff Newsletter dated 9 October, this is the only recommendation they have referred to as having come out of the conciliation meeting.
• Pacific National Managers are to be reasonable in enforcing the uniform policy. Pacific National was told that they needed to take a sensible approach to things such as adverse weather conditions.
• Pacific National is to consult with union members AND union officials when proposing to make changes to company policies. This recommendation was made in response to the RTBU bringing a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the RTBU and the company, to the attention of the Commission. The signed MOU states that the company agrees to consult with the union.
• The RTBU to have the ability to select 10 of its delegates to be included on the Pacific National uniform committee.
  Pacific National selected its committee with no involvement from the RTBU. The Consultative provisions in the EBA's specifically refer to including union involvement.
• The AIRC to be consulted prior to any further stand downs in relation to the uniform issue. Once again this is about the company taking a sensible approach before taking such drastic action.

RTBU Delegates to be included on the Uniform Committee

In addition to the committee nominated by the company, attached to this Newsletter is a list of RTBU delegates members you may contact in relation to this issue. Members are strongly urged to provide the delegates, in writing, the concerns you have about the new uniform. If you feel strongly that something needs to be done about the uniform, and the fact that shorts are no longer allowed, you need to take the time to document your concerns so that Pacific National gets the message loud and clear.

RTBU Survey

Also attached to this Newsletter is an RTBU Survey form about the new uniform. Once again, members should take the 5 minutes to fill out the survey and return it to their local delegate or rep so that Pacific National is under no illusion about what the real issues are in the workplace. If you have any questions about the Survey you should contact the RTBU National Office.

Further Information

The RTBU has asked the company to agree to have an independent expert in the field of skin cancer to advise both parties about the issue of wearing shorts. To date the company has flatly refused this request. The RTBU has a meeting scheduled with the Cancer Council early next week and members will be advised of those discussions in a future Newsletter.