Perisher Blue Threatens Closure

Date: 10 December 2002

Perisher Blue management, controlled by the super-rich Packer family, has told 19 Rail Tram & Bus Union members employed to operate the Skitube train at its ski resort operations in the Kosciosko area of the Australian alps, to sign individual contracts by December 20.

If not, the company may shut down the Skitube over summer and redeploy them to other functions.

"The RTBU members are refusing to sign the individual contracts because they will reduce the train drivers' pay, eliminate paid meal breaks, and provide no dispute settlement procedure," said RTBU Locomotive Division President Bob Hayden.

"The workers insist on a union agreement with the company, because they fear persecution if they have to negotiate on their own behalf and that the contracts offered are just not fair or just".
Apart from approximately two other tradesmen, the RTBU members are the only union members in the Perisher workforce of 134 permanent and over 1,000 seasonal employees.

Management has also told the RTBU that if a summer shutdown doesn't make the workers sign the individual contracts, they may close operations for winter, terminate all staff and reopen with new workers under the individual contracts.

RTBU officers have informed the management that this constitutes coercion, that the members recognised it as a threat and ultimatum, and that it was illegal.

The RTBU has put forward three options to the Perisher Blue management:

§ a 3-year EBA with automatic flow on of State safety net increases, or
§ a State Skitube Award, with automatic flow on of State safety net increases, and
§ an independent work value study of the Drivers and Trades functions.

Management rejected all three, arguing that the Drivers are paid too much compared to tradespeople, and they should only receive 60% of State safety net increases for two years, to bring them back to the Fitters' rate. Thereafter they would receive 100% of State safety net increases.

They advised that they are prepared to deal with the Union but only if they achieved their above objectives, which the Union rejected.
Management rejected the idea of increasing the Trades rate to match the RTBU rates.

Given this impasse and the severe threats from the management, the RTBU has lodged a dispute in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission with the view of gaining an Award, whether the company is prepared to attend or not.

For further information

Contact:	Bob Hayden
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	02 9264 3400
Contact Mobile:	0418 471 088

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