RTBU - PacNat Member's EBA 2005 Update Newsflash! 27

RTBU Continues To Meet With PN:

As members were advised in the previous edition of your Newsflash, the RTBU agreed to continue meeting with Pacific National in an effort to reach agreement on an Enterprise Agreement with outcomes that are fair and reasonable for members. Those meetings occurred over the past two days. The issues discussed at those meetings are detailed below;

Classification Structures:

The RTBU took the opportunity to walk the company through the union's proposals on Classification Structures (as detailed in the RTBU Draft Agreement proposal), detailing the reasoning behind the RTBU claims. The RTBU also took the opportunity to inform the company of the reasons for the requirement of the parties to come to an agreement on the definition of Driver Only Shunt.

Despite lengthy discussions, no agreement has been reached on the outstanding issues related to classification structures for Train Crew, Terminal Operators, and Maintainers. The outstanding issue in classification structures for Support Staff (the inclusion of HAY points) may be addressed in the near future, with the company agreeing to provide information / briefing sessions to interested employees on how the HAY evaluation system is applied.

Salary Maintenance:

The company explained that the intent of their salary maintenance clause was not as it reads in the document provided to the RTBU in mid-September. The company outlined what they say is the intent of their clause. That intent is to have a three tiered system with different provisions for employees already on salary maintenance, existing employees at the date of certification and employees employed after the date of certification.

The RTBU position is that the provisions in the current Enterprise Agreement should apply for the new Agreement. When pursued about whether the company's position was one of cost, Pacific National agreed that from their prospective they are only taking a philosophical view on salary maintenance, it is not a cost issue. There is no agreement on this issue.

Use of Contract Labour Hire and Labour Hire Agencies:

Pacific National has stated that they believe this is an issue that should not be included in the Agreement. This is despite the company having previously agreed to the clause on two occasions, only to subsequently withdraw that agreement. There is no agreement on this issue.

Recruitment, Selection and Induction:

The RTBU is seeking to have the classification level for a position included in a letter of offer of employment. Pacific National stated that whilst they are happy to verbally advise employees of this information, they are not prepared to put it in a letter of offer. Pacific National went on to say that this issue too is a philosophical position for the company. There is no agreement on this issue.

Shift Lengths - Train Crew:

This issue has been one of intense discussion over a period of time. The RTBU took the opportunity to go through its position on this clause, and then invited the company to comment on what it believed the issues were. The RTBU advised the company that it would not respond to the company's comments until the next meeting between the parties.

Barracks Detention Payment:

The parties had previously reached agreement on this issue as part of a package of items. The agreement reached was not as the RTBU had been seeking but was agreed to in the context of the package. Pacific National then took the decision to withdraw agreement. Again, the RTBU outlined its position and invited the company to respond. The RTBU is seeking parity between Business Division on this issue. The company has stated that it will not agree to the RTBU position because of issues associated with cost. There is no agreement to this issue.

Further Meetings:

The RTBU offered to meet with the company for further discussions regarding Train Crew Rostering issues next Thursday and Friday. The company has accepted the offer. Members will be advised of the outcomes of those meetings in future editions of your Newsflash Newsletters. The RTBU remains committed to negotiating in good faith in an effort to achieving an Enterprise Agreement

Further Information:

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

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