I have been spending long hours in discussions with the MBA over a new collective agreement and there have been some ‘emotional’ outbursts from them over what we’re asking for.

The main bones of contention are changes to the RDO calendar and double time for all overtime. The reason why we’re fighting hard on these issues is that our members have told us they are important to them.

In our recently completed survey, a large percentage of those who responded wrote in the commentary section that they wanted all overtime at double time and they wanted some days that we lost in our RDO calendar, restored. This makes sense as currently the ETU and Plumbers’ members already have those days off and there needs to be consistency throughout the industry.

Table thumping
While painstaking negotiations have been going on regarding other issues such as living away from home allowance, superannuation and the wage rise, the MBA are playing hard ball on the RDO calendar and the overtime payments. They’ve been thumping the table and behaving in ways quite unbecoming for the gentlemen that we all know and respect.

But we are sticking to our guns, not because I presume to know what it’s in your best interests, but because I know that’s what you’re asking for. This was further confirmed to me at the last delegates meeting where a unanimous decision was taken to support us in our negotiating efforts and to push on with our demands.

We are entitled to take protected industrial action during the negotiation process and we will not hesitate to put these issues to a vote of the membership if the employers don’t negotiate in good faith. The results of the survey suggest to me that these are both issues that you are prepared to act on.

I want to take the opportunity to wish all CFMEU members a happy and safe Easter break. I encourage you to come back relaxed and refreshed because you may be called on to fight in our next round with the bosses over improvements to your wages and conditions.

Bill Oliver
State Secretary