RTBU-PacNat Member's EBA 2005 Update Newsflash! 52

Pacific National Delays Decision:

As reported in the last edition of your Newsflash, the RTBU has advised Pacific National that it will only recommend a roll over of the current Enterprise Agreement to members on the proviso that it is certified under the current Industrial Relations legislation. The RTBU also reported that following extensive consultation with members and delegates that if the roll over of the current Agreement was not certified under the current Industrial Relations legislation we would simply remain on the current Agreement and not receive any wage increases in order to protect our current conditions of employment from the WorkChoices legislation.

The RTBU is aware that the matter of the roll over of the current Agreement was an agenda item for the Board of Pacific National last Friday. The RTBU has been informed that the Board decided to make no decision on the roll over of the current Agreement and do not intend to do so until the next Board meeting in late March. The company has also advised that their intention is to have the roll over of the current Agreement finalised by the end of April 2006.

As a sign that the RTBU is acutely aware of the difficulties facing Pacific National during this period of in-fighting between the owners of the company, and as yet another way of trying to give both the company and RTBU members some relief from being used as pawns, the RTBU suggested another proposal to the company last week. The RTBU proposed that there was nothing preventing the company from agreeing to continue with the current Agreement without having it re-certified until the dust settles amongst the owners. The company would not be prevented from applying the wage increases they have offered, and the employees would have some protection from WorkChoices. The company understood the proposal being put to it by the RTBU and did not rule the proposal out. Remember, when Pacific National attempt to blame your union for you not receiving a pay increase, there is absolutely no reason why they could not apply the increases at any time. If they choose not to, then that is THEIR decision.

Members, through their delegates have quite rightly previously said that they will not accept a roll over of the current Agreement under the WorkChoices legislation. Pacific National have now made it clear that their agenda is to stretch the process out as long as they can to ensure that any roll over of the current Agreement WILL be subjected to the WorkChoices legislation. This is a deliberate tactic by the company to continue THEIR reform agenda, and introduce all of the conditions of employment that YOU, the members, have consistently said that you do not want.

Pacific National Managers Attempt To Undermine and Discredit the RTBU and its Delegates

A number of Pacific National Managers have embarked upon a campaign of attempting to undermine the RTBU and particularly RTBU workplace delegates. This is a tactic consistent with those tactics employed in other industries by anti-union / anti worker employers, for example the mining industry. Our Comrades from other unions involved in those industries have advised the RTBU that this is exactly what company's have done to them when those Managers could not get their own way.

These Managers would have you believe that the reason there has been no agreement reached to date is because RTBU delegates have been greedy and asked for too much. What the company continues to fail to understand is that it has been the members themselves that have driven this campaign. The delegates have simply been the conduits by which the members have expressed their views. This campaign has never been about greed. The fact is RTBU members have been far from greedy throughout this campaign. Members have sought nothing more than to protect the conditions of employment they have fought to gain in the past. Where we find ourselves now is as a result of the greed of Pacific National in attempting to take away those conditions and initiate even worse conditions in their place.

These Managers are also attempting to 'white ant' the RTBU and its workplace delegates by inferring that the RTBU cannot reach an agreement. The fact is that the RTBU has a long history of reaching agreement with many employers over many years. A further fact is the reason that RTBU members employed by Pacific National have rejected the company's offers is because the Agreement proposed by them is an unacceptable erosion of many key elements of their current conditions of employment. RTBU members have made it clear to the company that they are not prepared to accept an Agreement at any cost. This fact is highlighted by the massive NO vote to the proposal put out to employees by the company back in December 2005, where a massive 87% of employees who voted rejected that proposal!

These Managers would have you believe that you made the decision to vote no to the proposal back In December because 'the union told you to'. In other words they believe you are not capable of thinking for yourselves and making your own decisions based on the information before you. The reality is that members had a look at what was on the table from the company and members decided it was not good enough. It is as simple as that!

The strength and unity of members across the country has been the key to this campaign from the beginning. It is that strength and willingness to support each other that has held off the unpalatable 'reforms' the company has been pursuing so vigorously over the past 11 months. The company may well continue its tactic to attack delegates and the RTBU, but this tactic will be doomed to fail. RTBU members understand the importance of solidarity and will do whatever it takes to protect their union and particularly their delegates.

Pacific National is obviously frustrated that the members of the RTBU will not accept their proposals for the new Enterprise Agreement. Pacific National has also obviously decided that it is going to 'punish' its employees by attempting to subject them to the draconian provisions of the WorkChoices legislation in retaliation for not agreeing to their proposals.

Over the coming days and weeks you will no doubt hear and read rhetoric from your manager about things such as you had the opportunity to have an Agreement under the current legislation but the RTBU and its delegates would not agree. The company can say whatever it likes, but the reality is that members understand which of the parties has been genuinely trying to reach an acceptable Agreement, which of the parties has been up front and open about all matters relating to the EBA negotiating process and which of the parties has been solely driven by the desire to retain conditions of employment already in place.

The RTBU and its Delegates and Members are committed to negotiating a replacement collective agreement with Pacific National and our campaign will not stop until this is achieved.

RTBU Seeks Assurances About Employee Entitlements:

Given the internal turmoil of the company, the RTBU is concerned about the security of employee entitlements if the company does get broken up at some stage in the near future. The RTBU has sought assurances from Pacific National about the security of those entitlements. To date there has been no correspondence received by the RTBU guaranteeing your entitlements. The RTBU will continue to seek assurances on behalf of members.

Workplace Meetings:

Over the coming week RTBU delegates will be conducting workplace meetings. It is important that you attend those meetings where possible. The purpose of the meetings will be to discuss the options available to us, before a national telephone hook up of delegates on Wednesday, 1st March, with a further national hook up next week.

RTBU To Meet With Pacific National Today:

Pacific National has requested to meet with the RTBU today. The purpose of the meeting is unclear at this stage, but members will be advised of the outcome of the meeting through future Newsflashes. A report back of the meeting will be provided to delegates on the phone hook up on Wednesday.

Further Information:

Members will continue to be kept informed of any significant developments through future editions of your Newsflashes. For further information on issues regarding the Enterprise Agreement negotiations please contact your local RTBU delegate, your respective RTBU State Branch or the National Office.

Newsflash!@Home:

If you would like to receive future EBA Newsflashes to your personal home email please email Greg Harvey at gharvey@rtbu-nat.asn.au with your name, your location, your classification and your email address and you will be added to the email list.

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