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The
trade union movement believes enterprise bargaining:
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Advantages the
bosses |

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Allows bosses to intimidate small groups of
workers into
lower wage agreements |
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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:
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Extra allowances |
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Better redundancy – paid into a union trust (ACIRT) |
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Higher superannuation – paid into Cbus |
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Extra insurance
protection |
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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:
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being a
financial union member at all times |
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encouraging
your workmates to be financial in the union |
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voting for
full union membership at company and site union meetings |

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campaigning
to ensure all employees on site receive the benefits of
union negotiated enterprise agreements |
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being an
active union member |
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supporting
the election of union delegates on your site |
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