CFMEU FORESTRY & FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH
Newsletter Autumn 2008
The Cutting Edge
RECRUIT A WORKMATE - GET YOUR WORKPLACE 100% UNION - CALL 08 8219 9000 OR 08 8725 9966
UNION SAYS WAGES STUDY SHOWS HUGE GAP
The minimum award wage for a tradesperson in Australia is currently $615.98 per week. The current highest trade rate in a Union Collective Agreement is approximately $809.00 plus allowances and loadings.
For workers without trade certificates, unless they work for a progressive company that recognizes on‐the‐
job experience and recognition of prior learning the wages are lower. Workers from Heritage Glass support injured workers at the WorkCover Rally on April 1, 2008.
Article and more photos on page 2
Secretary Dave Kirner said, “Too many been able to get wage levels up but workers are being bluffed into thinking with rising interest rates and inflation it would be good to hear employers say they should not go for The cry has gone out from union members that the wages in the industry are too low!!!!!!!!!!!!! Overtime critical According to the research 37% of employees work overtime, 22% of employees work more than 50 hours per week and 30% work regularly on weekends. Some members are doing up to ten hours overtime to gross up to the average wage. higher wages claims. The reality is that a two pronged approach is needed. that they are willing to pay more to keep up with the cost of living. “Firstly workers need to struggle to get a decent wage outcome in their Union Collective Agreement and put pressure on employers for classification based wage increases that recognize a workers’ skill levels and experience and contribution to the workplace.” When inflation was low employers said that there was no need for higher wages. Now that inflation is rising we are not hearing them offer more.” Assistant Secretary Brad Coates believes that, “In many mills we have Members who would like to discuss improved wages claims and want to strategically plan classification reviews should speak with their local shop steward or union official. Call your Union for Service and Advice Members can contact the Union from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm for assistance, support and advice on safety, wage, redundancy, general industrial, enterprise bargaining and workers compensation matters. Call the Union’s Adelaide Office on 8219 9000 or the Mt Gambier Office on 8725 9966. CONSTRUCTION
FORESTRY
MINING
ENERGY
UNION
Authorised by David Kirner Secretary and Brad Coates Assistant Secretary CFMEU F&FPD
Unit 2, 191-195 Melbourne Street North Adelaide 5006 and 40 Percy Street Mount Gambier 5290 SA 2/2008
The Cutting Edge Autumn 2008
Page 2
Award Wage Case
The Australian Fair Pay Commission is considering its 2008 wage deal for award based workers with a decision due out this financial year. the new wages system comes in. “Without a decent safety net and a Last year rates increased award wages by $10.26 per week living wage for rates up to $700.00 per week. people Your union is pushing for a $26.00 per week minimum wage without EBAS Steinhoff Pacific workers negotiating their
rise and employer groups like Business SA are arguing for and Union Collective Agreement
much lower increases. The Federal government has not bargaining argued a position, instead focusing on tax cuts. power are being short‐changed by a system that favors National Secretary Michael O’Connor indicated that the greed and excess rather than a fair day’s work for a fair union will review all awards to try and improve them when day’s pay,” he told Cutting Edge. RALLY FOR INJURED WORKERS
The ALP State government is trying to cut Work Cover benefits after falling hook, line and sinker for the Business SA arguments to reduce workers rights. Over 1000 building industry members of the union attended the rally that marched from Victoria Square to Parliament House. On the march were glaziers, timber workers, furniture workers, injured workers and retired members. Scaffolders, crane drivers, laborers, ceiling fixers and carpenters all joined forces and called for the proposed changes to be scrapped. AWA’s out - UCA’s in
Union members continue to negotiate Union Collective Agreements as a way of increasing wages and conditions and protecting them. Whilst some employers have pushed AWAS ‐ these have now been abolished by the new Labor Federal government. A small number of companies have Employee Collective Agreements. Generally collective agreements have been called EBAS. Since the last edition of Cutting Edge we are building more detail for members on industry wage deals. In the main the pace‐setters are Union Collective Agreements and most award wages should be considered against the benchmark of the highest Union Collective Agreements to see if you are being paid a competitive rate. Adelaide Organiser Mark Nicholls says EBA’s are slightly easier to do now that the ALP is in office. “My advice to members is to think about a wage increase and then get the union down to the site to talk about the best way of going about it.” Above: CFMEU Construction State Secretary Martin O’Malley
addresses the crowd. Left: Adelaide CFMEU FFPD Workers
Compensation Officer Michelle Ingley-Smith, former National
Secretary Trevor Smith and former
Plumbers Union Secretary Tony Bush.
SAUSAGE STOPWORK
Westside Office Furniture CFMEU members know when the BBQ comes out then it is EBA negotiation time. Members are pursuing a 15% over three year agreement with no changes to current conditions. The company is offering 3% per year and an attack on the weekly attendance bonus. Members have voted for a 24 hour stoppage. The Cutting Edge Autumn 2008
Page 3
EBAS and Awards around the State - Industry by Industry Rundown
Flat Glass & Glazing
Dickson Glass & Aluminium
Recently settled
Pilkington Brown Brothers
Boral Window Systems - 8%
over 2 years, annual classification
and performance reviews, sick
leave bonus
Chevron MP - 9% 3 year $400.00
back pay and Grace Day 37.10
hour week
Pagel Glass - 12% over 3 years,
$750.00 back pay and pager
allowance increases. Agreement
certified. Strike action taken.
In negotiation
Heritage Glass (Victoria) Offer of
36 hour week, BIRST and site
allowances
Mount Barker Glass 3% paid,
Grace Day offer and $700.00 offer
rejected. Pre-strike ballot held
voting in favor of industrial action
EAL Window Transport
Offer of $18.00 or $20.00 per hour
with overtime rates commencing at
10 hours. 12% over 3 years.
Rejected
Current Certified EBA
Pilkington Brown Brothers
-12% over 3 years with income
protection cover and single flat
glass award
Regency Robes & Shower
Screens - 7% over 2 years
AL Windows
Ace Shopfitters 36 hour week
Budget Glass
Clarksons Glass 36 hour week
Construction Glazing
36 hour week
Hartley Glass
Kingswood Aluminium
MS Glass and Glazing
SA Independent Glass
Stegbar 37.10 hour week
Windscreens O’Briens
Existing EBA Past Expiry Date
Not Yet Renegotiated
Central Glass
Watch out - AWAS at this site!
Crane Aluminium Systems
Annual wage increases and 10%
super
Regency Robes & Shower
Screens
Rollover EBA
Chevron Glass RP
37.10 hour week 1.8% plus KPIs
12 months
Award/Over award/No EBA
Aldinga Aluminium
All Areas Glass and Glazing
Beach Glass
Festival Glass & Glazing
Federation Glass
Glaze Rite Glass
Glenelg Glass
Golden Grove Glazing
Ian Robertson Glazing
McClaren Vale Glass
Millicent Windows and Doors
Parafield Glazing
Peter Pan Glass
Portlite Windows
Reliable Glass
South Pacific Windows
Southern Glass
Unley Glass
Furnishing Trades
Recently settled
BRAY Cabinets
Negotiations completed with 5%
per year wage increase and
restructuring of site allowances.
Bedford Industries
Settled 12% over three years
Masonic Homes
12% over three years
Peacock Furniture - 3%
17.3% over three years based on
all workers receiving trade rates
onpassing their trade courses.
CHH Mount Gambier Sawmill
Australian Kitchen Industries
Creative Furniture
Duraform
Green Triangle Forest Products
Interior Joinery and Furniture
Factory
Sealy of Australia
Stevens Commercial Furniture
Supreme Kitchens
Swiss Joinery
Le Messuriers
Rollover EBA
Wingfield Timber Supplies
Watch out - AWAS at this site!
CHH Pine Panels
Corinthian Doors
Westside Furniture
Offer 9% over three years and lose Forestry SA (Administrative
Agreement State Government)
attendance bonus. Strike action.
Freeman & Wauchope
Current Certified EBA
Alody Luxaflex Blinds Screens
and Awnings
John Arnold Shopfitters On-Site
Kimberly Clark Millicent
Moyle Bendale Timber
SA Sawmilling Kuitpo & Wingfield
Timco Salisbury Park & Lonsdale
Trussfab
Wunda Projects
Existing EBA Past Expiry Date Existing EBA Past Expiry Date
Not Yet Renegotiated
Not Yet Renegotiated
Comseat
Displayline Shopfitters
IJF On Site 36 hour week
Hepburn Shopfitters
Gawler Cabinet Makers
Smart Shopfitters
Hammersmith Woodturners
Wagner Shopfitters
Sky City Casino
Watch out! -AWAS at this site
Winkle Shopfitters
Stan Bond Blinds Screens and
Awnings
Amelia Nominess
Award/Over Award/No EBA
Steedform
KP Badenoch
Award/Over Award/No EBA
Bone Timber
Adelaide Coolrooms
LV Dohnt
Adelaide Felt Floorcovering
Flannery Logging
Artica Furniture
Footersville
Cabinet Tech
Gawler Carpenters and Joiners
Watch out - AWAS at this site!
GR Logging
Hume Doors & Timber
John Arnold Shop-fitters
CD Custom Designs
Timber Industry
Steinhoff Australia Greenfields Currently Certified EBA
6% over 18 months, $25.00 per
Aspect Packaging
week multi-skill allowance and
allowance for ECC representatives Auspine Building Centre
Trusses
In negotiation
Auspine Kalangadoo
Le Cornu No offer
Auspine Limited
Steinhoff Pacific
Brown Woodpanels
Negotiations have commenced
with an offer of between 8% CHH Future Build Nangwarry
NF McDonnell
Moreland Logging
Otto & Co
Panzcak and Willenberg
Seaview Joinery
Skilled Engineering
South Coast Timber
LF Wright
Page 4
The Cutting Edge Autumn 2008
Union Team a Big Hit!
CFMEU members and officials feature prominently in this local cricket team. Captain Stephen Lock
displays the winner’s
Shield
South East Organiser
Travis Lawson with the
team captain
The Centrals “C” Grade Premiership Side are pictured (right) proudly displaying the Cox Brothers Shield which has been in competition for well over 50 years. Of the 13 members of the team, 10 are timber workers all of whom are Union and TISS members. The side includes CFMEU SA Branch President, Greg Muhovics, and his brother Michael, SA COM member and workplace delegate and South East Organiser Travis Lawson. C Grade Premiership Side 2007/2008
Back Row: Phil Muhovics, Andrew Reddie, Ryan Buchalka, Jason Risely,
Ian Hewlett, Kevin Risely, Craig Hicks
Front Row: Travis Lawson, Cory Paine, Michael Muhovics, Stephen Lock,
Greg Muhovics, Dean Burston
What’s Happening in your Union
Events New Life Members
WorkCover Community Rally ‐ 10 am on May 3rd at Victoria Square. John Gatt ‐ Chevron Royal Park Steve Clarke ‐ Stevens Commercial Furniture Adelaide Shop Stewards and Enterprise Consultative RIP
Committee Training Course Ashley Martens ‐ Stegbar 2‐3rd June 2008 ‐ For bookings contact Michelle Ingley‐Smith The Union extends our condolences to the family. on 8219 9028 SUPER FUNDS MERGER
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The merger of TISS, FIRST and PPW superannuation funds have moved one step closer with member information material being posted to members in the near future. The merger will expand pension services and improve member life insurance and access to superannuation financial planning and coordinators able to visit you at work. Workers from Steinhoff Greenfields vote on their
Union Collective Agreement.
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If you are not in an industry fund in SA you can call: Jackie Weston from FIRST on 0411883759, or Yvonne Van Der Beek from TISS on 1300 360 988. Authorised by David Kirner Secretary and Brad Coates Assistant Secretary CFMEU F&FPD
Unit 2, 191-195 Melbourne Street North Adelaide SA 5006 and 40 Percy Street Mount Gambier SA 5290 2/2008