Catholic Health Care Campaign

MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT – HOW MUCH ARE YOUR CARS WORTH?

Details

Published on Tuesday, 08 December, 2009

As members of the Union would be aware, your negotiating team met with management for the second time on 13^th October to continue discussions regarding the proposed changes to the use of motor vehicles. Below is a summary of what took place at the meeting.

 

Meeting with Management #2

• Our second meeting with management proved much more fruitful than the first meeting. Management opened the meeting by apologising for being unprepared at the previous meeting and indicated that they have every intention to continue future negotiations in good faith. This was a welcomed by your representatives.

 

• As was agreed to at the conclusion of our previous meeting, management provided a list of the number of Coordinators who had a car clause in their contract. This list is attached for your reference. You’ll see that management has indicated that 39 Coordinators have contracts which contain a car clause.  Your representatives indicated that we sought to negotiate not only on behalf of those employees whose contracts contained those car clauses, but also those Coordinators who, in practice, had the use of a work car for personal use.

 

• We then took some time to look at the financial situation of the organisation. We are not able to provide members with those particulars as they were provided on a ‘without prejudice’ basis, that is, in confidence. We can indicate however that management presented a grim financial picture for the organisation.

 

• Having regard to all that had been discussed, management invited us to provide an indication of how the matter could be resolved. Your representatives took some time in another room (away from management) to review the financial documents and consider our position.

 

• Your representatives advised management that, in the first instance, our members wish for the status quo to be preserved, that is, for there to be no changes to the current car arrangement.  If that was not possible, then Management was invited to make an offer in the following broad terms:

 

1. That each Coordinator receive $6,000 annually in compensation for the loss of a work car for personal use.

 

• This proposal was made simply to start the negotiations and on the clear understanding that any offer would have to be put to members and voted upon.

 

• Management agreed to consider the proposal and provide us with their response by Thursday 22^nd October.

 

What Now?

Since that meeting, we have received a letter from Management indicating the following:

 

1. Management has considered the proposal put to them for their consideration and is not able to accept the proposal of an on-going allowance for financial reasons.

 

1. Management are costing some alternative options for members to consider.

 

1. These alternatives will be available for consideration by 2 November.

What Do You Need To Do?

Accordingly, we expect that Management will provide us with an offer for consideration by Monday 2^nd November. It will then be up to members to consider and vote on whether or not to accept the offer, and to consider any other options that are available to members.

 

Accordingly, we propose that a union meeting be held to consider and vote upon management’s offer as follows:

 

Union Meeting

Wednesday 4^th November

5:30pm

Brush Park Bowling Club

Cnr Marsden Rd & Rutledge St, Dundas

 

We welcome all Coordinators to attend this meeting, however please be advised that only union members will be invited to vote upon and instruct your representatives on whether or not to accept the offer or take any other action.

 

 

 

 

Why Join Your Union?

 

We continue to invite you to join your union and negotiating team, and have your say in this matter.

 

Five reasons to be union:

 

1. Have your voice heard. We can only represent your concerns if we know who you are and what your concerns are.

 

1. Be part of the decision making process. Any offer that management makes is likely to affect all Coordinators so it is important that you are involved and part of the process. Decisions affecting you are always made democratically, collaboratively and transparently by a majority of members.

 

1. We are only as strong as we are united in our voice. Management will only take us seriously if, together, we are saying the same thing.

 

4. Your union works with you to make sure you have an expert and informed voice representing you at the negotiating table.

 

5. Members will continue to have expert advice available to them long after this issue has been resolved. Your employment conditions, as contained in your Collective Agreement, need to be constantly protected.

 

 

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 or contact Adrienne Vella on 9310 4000.

 

United We Stand, Divided We Beg!