Your ASU reps have now received Maurice Blackburn's log of claims ready for discussion at our next bargaining meeting with them on 7 and 8 December 2015 (download the full bulletin below to see the log of claims).
We are yet to hear the detail of what exactly is proposed but there are a number of significant claims designed to cut wages and conditions, and limit the scope of our agreement and extend working hours.
The firm proposes that there will not be guaranteed wage increases for anyone earning $80,000 or over and for anyone who is a Lawyer which may include trainee Lawyers.
We believe this will affect significant numbers of staff in particular hard working long serving staff.
There is also a claim to limit the scope of this EBA cutting out higher paid staff. This could well mean they lose the significant non-wage entitlements that the agreement provides not the least of which is redundancy. It seems the firm wants to walk away from the current right for all employees to collectively bargain.
The firm also wants to extend the spread of hours which is currently 7am – 6:30pm to 7am – 8pm. This would mean that the time worked from 6:30pm would no longer attract overtime and may signal longer opening hours of offices.
In a sad development for continuing education the company also wants to cap study leave to 26 days a year for law graduates training and 6 days per year for other employees. This is a significant reduction in entitlements (see current EBA clause 27)
Trainee Lawyers are also under attack with the proposal to take out clause 42 of the existing agreement and replace it with a policy. The trouble with policies as we have seen recently is that they can change at the whim of HR and are not collectively enforceable.
This is but a small snap shot of what we have received and of course we need more detail which we will hopefully get on Monday.
Anyone who thought that the firm might have a benign bargaining agenda will be sadly disappointed.
What's next?
Your National Negotiating Team want member feedback and have proposed to hold a meeting of members on Monday 7 December 2015 at 3pm (AEDST) i.e. QLD – 2pm, SA – 2:30pm, WA – 12noon.
Your local delegates and organisers will provide meeting details.
There is no doubt in the past we have seen attempts to cut wages and conditions by the firm which we have successfully defeated by being organised – so we can do it again, so make sure you attend your local meeting to express your views on our next steps.
Now more than ever it is time to join the ASU – you can join the ASU on line at www.asu.asn.au/asujoin
If you have any questions, contact your ASU delegate or local organiser (download the full bulletin below for details).
Maurice Blackburn Bulletin - 4 December 2015