The TWU (Vic/Tas Branch) welcomed some important guests this week when delegates from Toll, TNT and Linfox gathered at head office to talk shop in the lead-up to their respective 2017 EBA’s.
TWU (Vic/Tas Branch) Secretary John Berger said he could not be more confident in the delegates and Branch organisers who will be in charge of negotiations in the new year.
“They are all savvy, street smart, cool operators who ensure all members are cared for appropriately. Importantly, they understand the best EBA results are often achieved in yards that understand the importance of the workers sticking together,” John said.
“Next year this Branch begins negotiations on 50 EBA’s. It is a fact that, on average, workers covered by a Union agreement are between $200-300 better off a week than those on standard award rates of pay.
“This was obviously never just given to us, Unions had to fight for it.
“Unions also had to fight for paid public holidays, meal breaks, long service leave and maternity leave, paid sick leave, weekend and other penalty rates and superannuation.
“There would be no recourse to appeal unfair dismissals, annual wage increases, minimum workplace health and safety standards or redundancy payouts.
“Amazingly, some workers do not realise this and, sadly, they would also probably not be aware that these conditions are not guaranteed for life.
“At the beginning of nearly every single EBA negotiation we undertake, company negotiators will try to remove or erode as many of these hard-fought for conditions as possible.”
John said the ever-shifting workplace landscape putting profits before people made it more essential than ever to be a Union member.
TNT DELEGATES
TOLL DELEGATES
LINFOX DELEGATES