Yesterday representatives of your union, the CPSU NSW, met once again with MTC in regard to your enterprise agreement and, to quote Ben Elias once when commentating rugby league on Fox Sports, it was like deja vue all over again.
One would hope that after three successful periods of industrial action and two failed ballots MTC may have finally heard the firm and unwavering demands of its employees – but alas they appear to be without ears.
They returned to the bargaining table without any improvement to their meagre salary offer – the same one you strongly rejected at ballot only 8 weeks ago.
It is the opinion of your CPSU NSW representatives that enterprise bargaining is now exhausted. One can only beat one’s head against a brick wall for so long before realising it is a futile exercise.
We will now be lodging an application under section 240 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) to the Commission to seek assistance to break the impasse.
CPSU NSW will lodge this application early next week and as always will keep you all informed of the process moving forward.
If there is no resolution in conciliation CPSU NSW will then likely apply to have the matter arbitrated under new sections of the Act which come into effect in June. Whilst it then becomes an unknown outcome and fraught with some risk, we are very confident based on economic factors and recent decisions of the commission that we can do no worse through that process than the pittance being offered by MTC.
One final note – MTC has also recently changed its position on who it wishes to consult with via the JWCC, and retracted standing invitations to that meeting for CPSU NSW industrial staff. Outside of enterprise bargaining the JWCC is a vital process in raising matters of concern and negotiating change at the Centre, and we have made it absolutely clear this is not to change. It may become a second matter of disputation for the Commission to deal with in a few weeks pending MTC’s response.
The CPSU NSW would once again like to commend you all and especially your local delegates on the strength, resilience and courage you have all demonstrated on many occasions throughout this campaign. Your fight is worth it, you are all worth it and deserve more than the disrespect on offer. In the meantime, and as per usual, if you would like to discuss anything with the union, please contact Brian Kirk, Mark Ward or Kim Villanti.
In solidarity
