ARG'S FIRST EBA - RTBU NEWS BULLETIN NO. 14

PRESENTATION OF EBA TO WORKPLACE LEADERS

After 13 months of detailed negotiations the proposed EBA was presented to 40 union and management workplace leaders from Rail Operations and WestNet Rail at a day long workshop held in Perth yesterday:

The EBA will become the focus for wages and conditions in the workplace. The EBA is comprehensive, 73 pages, 46 clauses and 5 appendices. The workshop heard union and management EBA negotiators go through the major features with many questions asked and answered. They provided practical examples of how the EBA would operate and explained what it would mean for members income levels

Yesterday's workshop was the beginning of an extensive consultation process across the ARG network in WA. Workplace presentations will be held over a three- week period from 23 April to 14 May. To ensure shiftworkers have ample opportunity to attend an EBA meeting, several meetings will be scheduled at major locations. Final arrangements will be advertised widely. The EBA will be distributed to all employees in time to ensure a thorough examination prior to the explanatory meetings.

Currently different industrial instruments in force e.g., expired AWA's, certified agreements, current AWA's and the S.170LK agreement reflect many different wages and conditions. Uncertainty and confusion exists in some areas. Make sure you thoroughly read the EBA, attend explanatory meetings with workmates, and ask any questions you need to help you understand the Agreement

Steps Required by Workplace Relations Act

Certified agreement and expired AWA employees are automatically eligible to vote and be covered by the EBA. The WRA requires current AWA employees to sign a provisional termination agreement for eligibility to vote on and be covered by the EBA. Shortly they will receive material outlining the processes to be followed. For Forrestfield S170LK employees to be eligible to vote on and be covered by the EBA, the WRA requires a voting process to terminate the agreement.

Where to From Here with the EBA Process

1. Formal offer of EBA to all employees.
   
2. EBA viewing period - minimum 14 days.(Legal requirement of WRA)
   
3. Process for Current AWA & 170LK employees to be eligible and covered by the higher wages and conditions of the EBA (processes determined by WRA).
   
4. 3 weeks of workplace meetings to explain EBA to all employees.
   
5. EBA postal (secret) ballot (conducted by Australian Electoral Commission).
   
6. EBA vote counted and result announced.
   
7. Application to AIRC to certify EBA.
   
8. EBA operates first full pay period after certification <(likely late June, RTBU have made representations for retrospectivity)

The hard work of the RTBU negotiating team consisting of Delegates, Branch and National Officials has produced a comprehensive EBA for your consideration. It's your EBA. It will cover your wages and conditions for 3 years. ARGE workers have their first EBA to consider. We now have the opportunity to re-unify under the one industrial umbrella.