EA Update: Fair Work Commission Conference
Yesterday your RTBU delegates, together with RTBU officials, attended the Fair Work Commission for a bargaining conference with Keolis Downer Hunter (KDH).
In a disappointing turn of events, management again attempted to lay the blame on the union for delays in progressing the Log of Claims. This is despite your delegates and officials having worked tirelessly to prepare clauses with limited time, and the fact that there had been a further bargaining meeting on Wednesday to present those clauses.
KDH representatives even had the fortitude to suggest that future clauses be drafted outside of normal hours in delegates’ personal time. Clearly this is an unreasonable demand that undermines the bargaining process.
Management also sought to have Monday’s planned industrial action suspended. This position was firmly rejected. Members have endorsed the action, and it will proceed.
While some commitments were made about the future release for bargaining committee members (we will believe it when we see it!), it was clear once again that management are not engaging in good faith and continue to seek to restrain and inhibit the progress of bargaining by not allowing your representatives appropriate time to develop the clauses in support of the claims you’ve raised.
This Monday’s stop work meeting is a chance to show management that their behaviour is simply not good enough! We will also provide an update on the developments and behaviour of management during bargaining and the next steps in our campaign.
See you all on Monday!