EBA Department

CFMEU EBA Department

Enterprise Bargaining - a bosses system

Enterprise bargaining is a system of wage regulation designed by big business to lower wages, divide workers and destroy trade unions.

Companies with low wages are used to undercut companies paying better wages under union negotiated agreements.

When the union negotiates an enterprise agreement with a company for better wages and conditions, that company then has a higher cost structure.

When union companies tender for work they are being undercut by employers without union negotiated agreements, paying lower wages.

 

The trade union movement believes enterprise bargaining:

  • Advantages the bosses
  • Allows bosses to intimidate small groups of workers into lower wage agreements
  • Undermines the higher wages of union companies


Our solution - unionisation & pattern bargaining

Whilst not liking the EBA system the Union has developed policies & strategies to maximise our bargaining strength. In our union agreements we have a standard wage sheet with rates of pay significantly higher than minimum award rates of pay with provision for:

    • Extra allowances
    • Better redundancy – paid into a union trust (ACIRT)
    • Higher superannuation – paid into Cbus
    • Extra insurance protection
    • Many other benefits

    In our 2005-2008 EBAs we have maintained our 36 hour week long weekend shutdowns and extra paid leisure. We have negotiated no work on the long weekends where there are public holidays. We must campaign for only companies with union negotiated agreements to be engaged on sites. Non-union companies being engaged on your site because their price is cheap denies work to union members employed by union companies paying higher wages. This threatens the jobs and wages of all workers.

    We must promote greater compliance. Many bosses with non-union agreements are ripping off workers. They are often ripping off the tax system. These bosses must be subject to regular audits by the union.


    How you can help
    We cannot depend on politicians and lawyers to solve our problems. Every member must help. You must take responsibility to defend and improve wage rates by:

    • being a financial union member at all times
    • encouraging your workmates to be financial in the union
    • voting for full union membership at company and site union meetings
    • campaigning to ensure all employees on site receive the benefits of union negotiated enterprise agreements
    • being an active union member
    • supporting the election of union delegates on your site
    		•

    CFMEU - Construction & General Division NSW Branch

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