First Union IT Deal Struck

Date: 10 October 2001

Workers at a Sydney IT company have established a new best practice framework covering all aspects of their work.

The agreement between Social Change Online and the Australian Services Union (Services Branch) will provide

It will provide the basis of an enterprise agreement for the business, employing more than 60 workers, and become a benchmark for other workplaces in the industry.

Key aspects of the agreement include:
- development of competency-based training and career paths
- a commitment to paying above award conditions, where financially possible
- provision of flexible, family-friendly working hours
- encouragement and support of union participation
- commitment to collective bargaining with union involvement.

Social Change CEO Sean Kidney said, "Having a unionised workplace is good for business, it means workplaces issues are resolved promptly and fairly.

"I'm a financial member of a union myself and encourage all my staff to not only join a union but get active.

Australian Services Union state secretary Luke Foley said he was committed to working with Social Change to create stimulating and sustainable jobs.

"From the ASU's perspective, we want to work with IT workers to ensure they have a stake in this growing industry."

The deal coincides with the launch today of the IT Workers Alliance, a new initiative to create a union presence in the IT industry.

The IT Workers Alliance is on the web at http://www.itworkers-alliance.org

For further information

Contact:	Peter Lewis
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://www.itworkers-alliance.org

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