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Outcome of Protected Industrial Action Ballot Meeting |
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Tuesday, 24 June 2008 00:00 |
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Last night's meeeting of ASU members at the IBM Flightdeck resolved unanimously to authorise the ASU to apply for a ballot to take protected industrial action.
All 46 members of the ASU at the IBM Flightdeck participated in the ballot with all of those not present signing proxies to allow others to vote on their behalf.
This means that the ASU will apply for a protected action ballot. This ballot is a vote of union members conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission about whether to take industrial action. The ballot allows workers to take protected industrial action which means that the industrial action is legal and that IBM is breaking the law if they attempt to interfere. The ballot will be broadly worded to give us a broad range of possible actions. Flightdeck workers will make a democratic decision about what action to take after the ballot.
When the application is heard, a timeline will be set for the ballot which will include a date for closing the roll of voters. Only people who are ASU members at this time are able to vote in the protected action ballot or to participate in protected industrial action. We will ask for a week before the roll closes to allow us some extra time to recruit more Flightdeck workers because the more people who participate, the stronger we will be.
It is important that we let all the non-members in the workplace know that we are taking the protected action ballot and ask them to join before the roll closes. I've attached an ASU membership form.
We will need at least 50% of ASU members to participate in the ballot and 50% plus one of those who vote to vote in favour of the proposed action. To compile the roll of voters the AEC will compare the contact information held by the ASU and that held by IBM. It is important that everyone make sure that their contact details with IBM and the ASU are up to date.
A successful ballot allows us (but doesn't require us) to take any of the forms of industrial action listed in the application. A "Yes" vote will put us in a strong negotiating position to get IBM to the bargaining table and to get a good Enterprise Bargaining Agreement from IBM that will improve conditions for everyone on the Flightdeck.
The application will be lodged with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today. We will keep you updated on what happens with the application as we find out more.Download the Application for a Protected Action Ballot
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Copyright © 2008 ASU. All Rights Reserved.
Authorised and published by Sally McManus, Branch Secretary
Australian Services Union NSW & ACT (Services) Branch
Level 1, 39-47 Renwick Street, Redfern NSW 2016, Australia
Flightdeck EBA Campaign 
