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CFMEU EBA Department
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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
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