PacNat EBA RTBU News Flash No. 39

In this edition of your RTBU Newsflash - Transition to Fortnightly Pays for ex NRC Employees.

In Newsflash! 38 it was reported that Pacific National's proposal for the transition to fortnightly pays was unacceptable for some former NRC employees.

The RTBU has been continuing discussions with Pacific National in an effort to come to a suitable arrangement for the transmission process to be less disruptive to member's financial matters, e.g. mortgage payments or other payroll deductions.

The Pacific National proposal was for those former NRC employees who are currently paid twice monthly to receive 3 weeks pay on the 15th March 2004 and then not receive another full pay until the 8th April 2004. This would mean a gap of 24 days between pays.

The RTBU explained to Pacific National that it was unfair, and therefore unacceptable that any employee should find themselves in a situation where they had to make one pay stretch over two pay periods. Pacific National was also reminded that their proposal was in direct contradiction to what had been said, by senior company management, would occur.

A counter proposal has now been negotiated for former NRC employees who are currently paid twice monthly. The proposal is that these employees will receive three weeks pay on the 15th March 2004. Then, on the 29th March 2004, upon request, employees can receive an advance on the pay they would have received on the 8th April 2004 of up to $1,500 Gross. Then, on the 8th April 2004 employees will receive the balance of the payment they received on the 29th March plus their back pay. Then they will receive another pay on the 22nd April 2004, which will be the commencement of the fortnightly pays.

The RTBU believes this is a much fairer way of ensuring that no member is financially disadvantaged in the transition to fortnightly pays.

For those former NRC employees who want to request a pay on the 29th March 2004, the union has produced a request form, which is attached to this Newsletter for your convenience. Employees should fill in the form, sign it, have your local manager sign it, make a copy for your own records, and have your local manager forward it to the appropriate personnel within Pacific National.

There will be no disruption to the normal pay sequence for former FreightCorp employees as they are already paid fortnightly. Those employees will continue to receive their wages as usual, and will receive their back pay on the 8th April.

If there are any questions or queries, please contact your local Delegate, your respective State Branch or the National Office.

Request for payment on the 29th March 2004

I,........................Name - Please print clearly)

Employed as ......................Classification)

at ......................(Location)

formally request that I receive a payment of

$.....................(amount - not exceeding $1,500)

on the 29th March 2004. I understand that this will be an advance payment of wages due to me on the 8th April 2004 and that any remaining wages due to me from that pay period will be paid on the 8th April, along with my back pay.

Employee Signature ....................

Employee Number .......................

Manager's Name .........................

Manager's Signature ...................

Note: Once completed, this form is to be forwarded to the payroll department as soon as practicable