The CPSU is pleased to advise its members that National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) proposed enterprise agreement, which was not circulated with the consent of your Union, was rejected at ballot 55 per cent to 45%.
What is mystifying however is NHVR’s reluctance to inform the impacted workforce of this result, which came in at Wednesday lunch time. Despite our pleas in the last 36-48 hours for them to issue the news, nothing official has been forthcoming.
Compare this to the Admin and Professionals agreement which was accepted by the workforce, and the last ballot had barely been counted before NHVR were proclaiming a great victory. Seems like a case of sour grapes, and not the good kind in a bottle we will all be consuming over Christmas.
What it tells us is that NHVR were more desperate than we realized to get this agreement across the line.
What that alerts us is that it represented a better deal for them – and by extension a worse deal for you – than perhaps we even realised at the time.
And what that should make all of us more determined than ever now is to forge an improved and acceptable offer at the bargaining table in the coming weeks and months.
Should that not materise and NHVR continue to attempt to push a now-rejected down our throats, we will need to elevate our pressure to industrial action.
In the meantime however, enjoy the festive period in the knowledge that when you return from your break the status quo will remain and you will not be worse off. 2025 looks like now the year of improved workplaces and conditions thanks to your solid support.
Merry Christmas from the CPSU.
