Marist Youth Care - It’s time for members to decide!

UNION MEETING TO DECIDE NEXT STEPS MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER

1. On August 5th MYC wrote to the ASU telling us that government grants were being cut and that MYC would need to introduce new rosters to deal with this cut to its grants. After misleading both you & your Union for months, MYC continued to tell this story until the truth came out on October 16th – the first meeting where the CEO was not present & MYC was represented by a lawyer.

2. On October 16th MYC came clean and for the first time told the truth to staff.  MYC claimed to have a huge budget shortfall of $1.2 million dollars. There are two reasons for this:

ONE – MYC has signed a contract with DOCS that increased income by 12% but costs (the restructure and rosters) associated with the new contracts would increase by 18%

TWO – MYC claimed that it would be getting less money from interest and less money from the Marist province this year.

The only reason there is less money from interest is because management decided to pay for new houses outright rather than borrow the money.

These are management decisions – this is mismanagement, and now workers are being asked to pay the price.

3. The Story. For nearly 10 weeks MYC misled everyone about this restructure. For 10 weeks we were told that funding was being cut and that’s what was causing the need to change the rosters.
The Truth.

• Funding is NOT being cut – funding is increasing.
• MYC is introducing a new structure and that new structure means they can’t afford the current rosters.

Why did MYC mislead staff? Why did MYC sign a new contract that meant they could not afford the current roster? Why did MYC pay for houses outright when they knew it would cut their income from interest?

4. Over recent weeks (since October 16th) delegates have been progressively negotiating new rosters and other significant changes in the proposed restructure. This has been a very difficult process. The fact is that member’s wages are going to be cut as a result of management decisions. Delegates have been working to minimise the impact on members and to ensure that we have a safe and healthy workplace. But in the end, it’s the fault of management that we are in this situation in the first place.

Many improvements have been won by the delegates – but, in our view the rosters are still inadequate.

5. On Tuesday November 11th, the ASU delegates were very close to settling the dispute about management’s new rosters. Whilst the delegates were not happy about the roster and they were definitely NOT the rosters we wanted, the delegates believed that the rosters that were being discussed were the best we could get.

• However, MYC have refused to meet some very simple demands:
• That the Out of Home Care roster commence at 2pm not 4pm – management refused
• That MYC enter into an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) that would NOT trigger the payment of day penalties and would allow the alternative roster (24 hours – 8am to 8am) to operate in High Needs houses (where the majority of staff agree) – management refused.
• That the weekend support shift be 13 hours – management refused.
• That they not expand management or administration during the trialing of the new rosters – management refused.

6. MYC to issue new rosters. Later today MYC will issue new rosters.

• There is no agreement to these rosters.
• These rosters are NOT acceptable to the ASU and its members.
• This roster will radically cut your pay and change your conditions of employment for the worse.
• The roster is bad for workers and bad for clients

7. Resolution. This dispute can be resolved. All we seek are the four simple things stated above.

These solutions are not about cost – we are offering to give up money.

The only thing stopping us all being able to move forward together is the sheer single mindedness of the employer.

Where to now? Members to Decide!
Your ASU Delegates have got as far as we can in negotiations. We have spent over 25 hours pushing MYC to where we are now. IT IS NOW UP TO MEMBERS TO DECIDE WHERE TO NEXT.

There will be a Union meeting for all youth workers on:

Monday 17 November at 1pm - Wenty Leagues in the Chinese Banquet Room

This meeting will determine how we should respond to the decision of MYC to completely break away from negotiations. The meeting will hear a report and consider a proposal about a way forward.

This meeting is only for youth workers who will be impacted by the rosters.  This is the last chance workers will have to decide the way forward.

Your Delegates
Please continue to communicate with your delegates:

• Patrick Guselli Greentree, Murphy, Freehill, Des Cottage 0423 932 900
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• Pieter Morssink Coogan, McKenna, McGarry, Duggan, Centenary, Keogh 0403 774 052
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• Donna Austin Barnes, Heydon, Maggie’s Place, Marcellin, HAYS 0405 246 405
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• John Williams & Grant Booth Glimore, Morrissey, The Siding, Egan John: 0404 050 701 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Grant: 0434 103 396 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

You may also contact ASU organiser Adrienne Vella on 9310 4000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .