ARG (ASR SA & NT) EBA News Bulletin No 6

In-Principle Agreement reached on EBA

The RTBU EBA negotiating team consisting of National and Branch Officers and delegates Reg Harris (Whyalla), Dave Yelland (Dry Creek), Bill O'Reilly (Port Lincoln) and Peter Coffey (Port Augusta) met with ARG/ASR representatives in Adelaide on 21-22 December 2004. After four (4) months of hard slog by the RTBU negotiating team, 'In Principle', agreement on the major issues has been reached. Over the next month the detail of the agreement will be put together. This doesn't mean there may not be hiccups along the way as 'the devil can be in the details.'

HOW DOES IT STACK UP?

Wages:

In the new agreement they will have two parts, a base and weekend penalties which stand alone. (This will provide fairness as workers will be paid on the overtime they work at their depot). In addition to the 4% interim paid from 26 September two (2) further increases of 4% will be paid over the three (3) year agreement.

Hours of Work:

The hours of work will be reduced from 84 to 80 per fortnight. (The hourly rate will increase from $24.57 to $25.93, a 5.5% increase).

Weekend Penalty Rate:

Will increase from 150% to 170% which will be phased in.

Overtime Rate:

Will increase from 150% to 170%, this will also be phased in.

Relay Van Rate:

Increase will be phased in over three (3) instalments. The current rate moves from 60% to 65%, then to 75% and at the second anniversary of the agreement to 85%.

Driver Only Rate:

The present 9% allowance will be increased over two (2) years to 13% that is, 9% to 11%, then to 13%.

Driver only Operations Productivity Payment:

In the ARG WA EBA a new payment was introduced to recognise the increased productivity from Driver Only Operations. When DOO exceeds 25% of the rostered working at a Depot an extra 2% is paid, when it exceeds 45%, 3% is paid and if the total working exceeds 65%, 4% is paid. Due to the limited nature of DOO in South Australia, these additional payments are only likely to apply at this stage to the Whyalla operations.

Held away from Home Allowance:

Single payment after 12 hours including multiple book offs. (These occur mainly on the Eyre Peninsula) total hours would be added up eg. 1st rest job 9 hours, 2nd rest job 10 hours, total of 19 hours. Seven (7) hours Held Away from Home Allowance (HAHA) would be paid (this new allowance will be phased in with 50% from the date of commencement of the new agreement and 100% from 1st Anniversary).

Expenses:

Book offs away from home depot by Train Crew in employer provided accommodation/includes relay van working. A meal allowance of $20.75 for each eight (8) hours or part of eight (8) hours. (This allowance will be automatically adjusted each July by the % increase in the Meals/Take Out Food category of the Consumer Price Index).

Expenses for temporary transfer in employer provided self contained accommodation $62.25 per day (0001 to 2400). In addition, the negotiations have resulted in a new 'incidentals' allowance of $13.85 p/d being introduced to cover the extra costs incurred when on temporary transfer.

Temporary Transfers:

Will be based on calling for volunteers first, if not successful, then equitable sharing on a depot basis and a recognition that an individual's personal circumstances may affect their ability to transfer. There will be a maximum of four weeks in any single transfer with maximum of three months in any 12 month period.

Length of Rest on Relay Van Working:

Most of the working of Port Augusta members involves book off and return on relay trips of between 40-48 hours each way. The demand of members has been for two full nights at home (defined as no earlier start than 0700 after on the second night). This allows proper sleep and 'normal' family and social life. ARG have agreed to this in principle subject to individual flexibility around the 52 hours but not breaching the before 0700 start).

Long Service Leave

ARG will recognise the service of casual employees who were recently made permanent employees. Offers will be made for other casuals to be made permanent. For many employees service will go to 1997.

Whyalla Remote Control and Hot Metal Rate:

The remote control shunting rate will increase from 3% to 4% and a new allowance of 3% will be introduced for the Hot Metal remote shunting due to the responsibilities and conditions associated with this method of working.

The RTBU Negotiating Team has made significant progress in obtaining improvements to member's wages and conditions. If you are in the small minority of ASR employees not in the Union or behind in your union dues then it's about time you did the right thing.

The RTBU Negotiating Team will meet again with management in Adelaide on the 27-28 January 2005. We wish members and their families' compliments of the season.

If you would like to receive future additions of the eba newsletter please forward your e-mail address to theteam@artbiusant.org.au