Electrolux Offends its Employees

Date: 07 December 2004

Employees in a recent ballot in Electrolux Home Products Riverwood overwhelming reject by 76% management's proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement. The United Services Union (USU) claims the proposed agreement offended the employees and their union.

Electrolux were seeking to extend the span of ordinary hours to 8.00pm Monday to Friday which would have resulted in employees losing their 17% shift penalty payment if rostered after 6.00pm in return for a 3.5% increase per annum over 3 years.

Management of Electrolux have advised the USU, and are currently convening meetings with employees to advise them, of their intention not to negotiate a further collective agreement at this stage. This is contrary to management's previous commitment to the USU that, should the agreement not be accepted by the majority of employees, then negotiations for a collective agreement would recommence.

USU Executive President Michael Want claimed Electrolux went to the High Court to find out what "matters pertained to the employment relationship." Management now knows that their staff, who are predominately female, want family friendly working hours and conditions.

The USU is critical of the AIG and Electrolux management in attacking family friendly working hours and in particular the AIG in their support of Electrolux's in these negotiations; The AIG are one of the leading group of employer organizations who are attacking working hours in the New South Wales Clerical and Administrative Employees (State) award case before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission early next year.

Further information contact Michael Want Executive President on (02) 9265 8211 or Mobile 0409 128 164.

For further information

Contact:	Michael Want
Union:	United Services Union
Phone:	(02) 9265 8211
Email:	united@usu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.usu.org.au

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