NIB Staff Reject Unfair Deal

Date: 13 April 2000

Staff at NIB have overwhelmingly rejected a management proposal for a non-union enterprise agreement in an enterprise wide vote which saw 314 staff vote against the proposal and only 54 vote for it.

Staff at NIB have overwhelmingly rejected a management proposal for a non-union enterprise agreement in an enterprise wide vote which saw 314 staff vote against the proposal and only 54 vote for it.

According to ASU Branch Secretary Michael Want who represents nearly 50% of the staff who work at NIB this decisive vote puts management's plans to force through an unfair agreement on the back burner.

"NIB have to re-think their approach to their staff," said Michael Want. "The staff at NIB have had a bitter experience from dealing with NIB without the protection of collective bargaining. Two years ago they agreed to a deal which effectively robbed some of them of nearly $3,000 by putting them behind the Award. Now that agreement has expired they are ready to put their collective strength into negotiating a deal that will put them in front."

The ASU believes that NIB will not be able to treat their staff with the same contempt this time around. "ASU members and activists have been busy spreading the word at NIB through the Health Fund Link and now it is one of the most unionised workplaces in Australia - at nearly four times the private sector average," said Michael Want.

It is just as well the staff at NIB are working towards a collective deal because according to Michael Want the proposal put by management is completely unfair.

"At a time when workers across Australia are pushing for fairer working hours, NIB are expecting their staff to increase the number of hours they work," said Michael Want. "And despite the fact that their staff have overwhelmingly rejected their proposal NIB management are still not prepared to open up the communication channels."

The staff committee has demanded that NIB allow the committee access to staff and email facilities for keeping staff informed and that the Union be part of all future negotiations and be a signatory to any new agreement.

"Clearly, staff at NIB want the ASU to represent them," said Michael Want. "NIB have to stop ignoring their own staff and get on with the job of reaching a reasonable deal. The Union will initiate a bargaining period to protect members should industrial action be necessary."

For further information please ring ASU Branch Secretary Michael Want on 0409 128 164.

For further information

Contact:	Michael Want
Union:	Municipal Employees Union
Phone:	(02) 92646821
Email:	clerks@magna.com.au

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