This bulletin is to employees of Catholic Community Services who are affected by changes which management seeks to impose regarding the use of motor vehicles.

Meeting with management

As members of the Union would be aware, your negotiating team met with management for the first time on 22 September. The purpose of the meeting was;

• to obtain a better understanding of the rationale behind the proposed changes;
• to discuss the financial particulars of the organisation; and
• to begin to negotiate a mutually satisfactory outcome for both parties.

However, we were surprised by how the meeting progressed. In summary:

• Attached is a letter we have provided to management which outlines what took place at the meeting and what was agreed at the conclusion of the meeting.
• You will see from that letter that we found management’s approach to the meeting unhelpful and evasive.
• Negotiations have now been delayed by 2 weeks to allow management time to research the relevant contracts of employment and provide your representatives with the results.

We expect that in future management will be sufficiently prepared with any necessary data to ensure productive and meaningful negotiations.

What Now?

Between now and our next meeting with management, it is essential that you communicate with your representatives to ensure that we can accurately represent your concerns. Your representative negotiating team is listed below. If you haven’t done so already, we strongly recommend that you do the following:

• Provide your email address

We want to be able to communicate with you efficiently and professionally so that you can be up to date with the latest discussions. We also want to hear from you about any concerns you may have. Please provide your personal email address to any of your representatives.

• Provide your contract of employment

Your contract of employment is the letter you would have originally received when you were first employed. It contains your employment conditions, and specifically your entitlement to a car for personal use. If you have this document, please provide a copy to any of your representatives.

• Join Your Union

It is vital that we act together to ensure that our voices are heard. Your representatives are simply your mouth pieces at the negotiations, but we are only as strong as the people we represent.

Your union works with you to make sure you have a transparent, democratic and expert voice at the negotiating table. Being part of your union is your opportunity to work as part of a genuine and collaborative team. You will be involved in all decision making and have your say.

Some workers have expressed the view that $9/week for membership is a lot of money. It is a lot of money, but this is about priorities. Nine dollars now could mean the difference between having a car arrangement with which you are happy or having management impose their decision on you. Your union receives no government funding and relies entirely on membership fees. We can only put resources where we have them. Union fees are tax deductible and you get many more benefits other than this negotiation.

Your Representatives

Your negotiating team consists of the following representatives:

Your representatives welcome your feedback and enquiries.

Please circulate this bulletin to your colleagues and encourage them to join their union and be part of the team. If you do not wish to receive this bulletin, please reply to the sender.

United We Stand, Divided We Beg!