Round 3 – Management Forcing Another Substandard EA to a Vote Again

Bulletin: 33/18

To: All ARTC Infrastructure Maintenance Members

Your bargaining team met with ARTC yesterday, 21^st May 2018 to hear their response to the counter proposal presented by your union team on Thursday, 17^th May 2018. Our proposal was;

• Maintain all current terms and conditions that have been agreed-in-principle between the parties as of the 11^th May 2018. This includes the three year Agreement term that management requested and the bargaining team accepted; and
• A 3.0% per annum increase to wages and allowances effective from February 2017 (back pay); OR
• A 4.0% per annum increase to wages and allowances effective from the date the Enterprise Agreement is signed off (under the provision that we have reached in-principle agreement by the end of June 2018 otherwise this offer by the bargaining team will expire).

Unsurprisingly; ARTC flatly rejected the proposal endorsed by RTBU members for wage and allowance increases.

Management informed your bargaining team that they intend to put their new offer out for a vote. They want to know if you think their new offer of 2.25% per annum is fair.

ARTC will begin the EA access period from today, 22^nd May 2018 which will end on Thursday, 31^st May 2018. The vote on their new proposal will begin on Thursday, 31^st May 2018 and closing on Monday, 4^th June 2018.

It is apparent to your bargaining team that a fair deal will not be offered through discussions at the table, but only possible through withdrawing your labour.

If you have not returned your protected action ballot yet you must do so immediately, as that is the only way you will achieve a reasonable deal.

In Solidarity!