DEFEND AND SUPPORT UNION AGREEMENTS

The CFMEU along with other building unions campaign for Union Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) on all sites. Our EBAs provide for wages well in excess of minimum award rates plus extra allowances, superannuation, redundancy and insurance.

We encourage all workers on all sites to demand that all bosses sign Union EBAs. If we allow bosses on sites without Union EBAs cheap labour will spread and undermine all of our standards.

CFMEU EBA Summary 2009 - 2011

The following is a summary of the wage rates and benefits of CFMEU EBAs for the period 2009 to 2011. Over 90% of our EBAs are identical, with a small number containing either higher or lower benefits, depending on the sector/trade.

Superannuation
The employer must pay 9% (of the combined hourly rate including company productivity and site allowances, fares etc.) into Cbus. In some EBAs the superannuation rate is a minimum amount e.g. $95, or 9% - whichever is the greater.

Company Productivity Allowance
In most Union EBAs the employer must pay a company productivity allowance for each hour worked. This allowance varies according to the sector or trade in which a member works. The amount payable by particular companies is outlined in each EBA. The majority of CFMEU EBAs have a $3.50 per hour company productivity allowance.

Redundancy
The employer must pay a minimum contribution into ACIRT each week. In most EBAs the minimum contribution is $68.00 increasing to $75.00 per week 01/08/2009 per week. Companies are also encouraged to donate $2.00 to the Building Trades Group of Unions for drug and alcohol counselling, referrals and safety prevention programs in the industry.

Extra Long Service
If you work under a certified union EBA you are entitled to your long service payment when you claim from the Corporation at the hourly rate in the EBA plus any applicable company productivity allowance. If you do not work under a union EBA your long service is paid at the minimum award rate i.e. about 30% less. Workers should check that their EBA is certified by the Commission before making a long service claim. The union assists financial members with claims so as to ensure they receive the correct long service rate of pay.

Fares and travel allowance
In most EBAs workers receive a fares allowance well in excess of the Award rate. The fares allowance is increased from $25.00 per day for each day worked (including RDOs)  to $27.00 per day from 01/03/2010 to $29.00 per day 01/10/2010. In a small number of EBAs there is an earlier or later date for this fares increase.

U-PLUS/24 Hour Accident Insurance
The employer must pay extra insurance to provide extra workers compensation benefits and income protection for workers injured by accident outside of work, plus mortality insurance. The cost to the employer of this insurance for each worker is  $70 per month increasing to $80.00 from 01/05/2009. The insurance is called U-PLUS. A brochure outlining the benefits of this insurance is available from the union office.

Meal Allowance
When a worker does 1.5 hours overtime after 8 hours work they are entitled to a Meal Allowance. In most EBAs the meal allowance is $20.00 (tax free). This is in excess of the award entitlement. In some EBAs the allowance is smaller or greater.

Apprentices
In most EBAs the employer must pay apprentices a percentage of the CW3(T) rate of pay plus a company allowance for 1st and 2nd year of $2.50 per hour and for 3rd and 4th year of $3.00 per hour. The employer must also pay $25.00 per week paid into ACIRT for 1st and 2nd year and $35.00 per week for 3rd and 4th year. Apprentices must receive 9% superannuation paid into Cbus. Apprentices are also covered by union top-up worker’s compensation/24 hour accident insurance.

Long Weekends and 36 Hour Week
In our standard EBA workers accrue 0.8 of an hour pay for each day worked Monday to Friday and for paid leave. This RDO Accrual can be used for RDOs and on NO WORK SATURDAYS.

All work is prohibited on:

• the weekend days (i.e. Saturdays and Sundays),
• public holidays, and
• RDOs

that are adjacent to the following public holidays/long weekends:

• Australia Day
• Easter,
• Anzac Day,
• Queen’s Birthday,
• Labour Day,
• Union Picnic Day.

This will guarantee building workers and their families six long weekends during the year, plus the Xmas shut-down.

Union Representation & Delegate’s Rights
All workers are required to be financial members of the CFMEU. The EBA provides rights to union officials to visit workplaces, and for workers to elect delegates. Union delegates are authorised to attend union training courses. Delegates and co-delegates need to be elected in every company, and on large sites.

Wages
The Agreement provides for a 2.5% wage increase every 6 months commencing March 1st, 2009. On our EBA Sydney Rates of Pay page you will find all the rates of pay for 2009, 2010 and 2011 when they apply.

Copy of Your Agreement
Each worker has a legal right to obtain a copy of his/her EBA from the employer. If your employer refuses to provide a copy of the EBA contact your union delegate/organiser.

Disclaimer
This information summarises the wage rate and main conditions of employment in the standard union EBA. However some EBAs vary according to sector e.g. bricklaying, tower crane, mobile crane, etc. You should obtain a copy of the EBA you work under to determine your specific rights and entitlements