Labourstart News
| Special Wage Case | 30 April 2008  |
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Most members would now be aware that both the Union and the Department have submitted claims for new Awards to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The Union’s claim for permanent and retained members consists primarily of a substantial wage increase and some peripheral changes to conditions of employment. The Department’s claim on permanent and retained members rates of pay and conditions of employment is an entirely different matter. The Department has now sought to strip our Awards of many long held conditions of employment, rights and entitlements. In exchange the Department has put forward an increase in wages of just one half a percent more than the Government’s existing offer over more than three years. The Special Wage Case will now have two almost diametrically opposed claims on our existing wages and conditions. A panel of four judges will consider our claim for extra wages and the Department’s claim to hold down wages and strip our Award of conditions, rights and entitlements – many held for decades. The Government has now clearly signalled it plans to fight the NSW Trade Union movement in an effort to sell the state electricity industry and tuck away the money to spend on getting itself re-elected. With the Premier now recording record low ratings in opinion polls there is little doubt the Government will be looking to ‘take on the Unions’ to create the impression that the Premier is a strong leader. The future of the electricity industry and indeed the capacity of the NSW Government to sell off all other publicly owned assets is likely to be decided at the Annual General Meeting of the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party this coming Saturday morning. On this basis the Trade Union movement has called the annual Mayday march for 9:30 am Saturday May 3rd at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre. The Union now needs all rank and file members of the Union to turn up on the day and show the leadership of the ALP that the FBEU is organised, motivated and ready to take the ball up to the Government. The Union will as always be providing a buffet lunch and light refreshments for those that attend. Members should bring as many firies and comrades as possible on the day and meet under the Union banner outside the convention centre. Members planning on attending should contact the Union for your free FBEU T-shirt and catering purposes. This years Mayday march is likely to be one of the most important for decades. If you care about your wages and conditions, the privatisation of state owned assets and the increased global warming inevitable from a privately owned electricity industry – make the effort to come along. Bring your family, your comrades and your mates we really need a good show. Simon Flynn State Secretary |
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