 More than 500 Fairfax staff this week rejected the company’s offer which divided staff into three groups with no guaranteed pay rise for those on $100,000+ salary. Our counter claim (read more...) was presented today to the company’s representatives, Don Churchill and Lloyd Whish-Wilson.
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Our Counter Claim
Endorsed by 505 Fairfax members this week:
• A two year agreement.
• Pay rise of 5% 1 July 2008 and 5% 1 July 2009, payable to all grade rates.
• Increased superannuation contribution to 10% from 1 July 2009 and a timetable to increase to 15%.
• An improved, transparent process for upgrades.
• 14 weeks parental leave for primary care giver of a child.
Negotiations in good faith on all our other issues.
A supplementary resolution outlining further detail was also passed in Melbourne and Sydney:
By an improved, transparent process for upgrades we mean:
1. More rapid progress through grades 1 to 4. This should include reviewing whether the maximum time at each grade should be reduced.
2. The company to properly apply the agreement’s skills-based classification structure and provide a clear process for applying for upgrades and the criteria used to assess staff.
3. Review the classifications of people working in managerial roles such as Chief of Staff, Night Editor, etc and determine appropriate upgrades for people acting in these roles; and
4. Place a limit on the number of years people can spend in each grade above Grade 4.
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The company’s initial response
The company representatives said our claim would be discussed with the senior management team tomorrow morning. The team consists of Churchill, Whish-Wilson, Lisa Hudson, Allen Williams, Michael Gill and Brian McCarthy.
The company has agreed in part with our claim for an improved upgrade system. They have proposed 6 years to move from J1 to J4, an improvement on the current 8 years.
In the talks, the company reiterated comments from earlier negotiations that their proposal was a good offer and the best they could come up with in the current economic environment.
They also said they intended to approach people with individual offers from July 1, the day after the formal expiry of the collective agreement.
Individual offers: what should I do? If individual offers are made to you, it is part of the company’s strategy to undermine good-faith negotiations that your representatives have been seeking. The company wants you to accept an individual offer to undermine our collective strength.
It may be a meeting with your editor, or a letter to your home, and the offer may ask you to forgo your right to participate in protected industrial action with your colleagues.
Remember, you are still covered by all the terms and conditions of the collective agreement after it expires. We advise you to thank the company for their offer and say you will accept it only after the collective agreement negotiations by your house committee representatives are concluded.
Sign the petition today
More than 600 staff members have signed a pledge to stand with their colleagues and reject individual offers. See your house committee representative or Alliance organiser to add your voice to this pledge today. It’s important you support your colleagues and make your voice heard at this critical time.
For more information and to get involved in the campaign at Fairfax, contact your House Committee delegate or Alliance organisers Claire O’Rourke at claire.orourke@alliance.org.au or 02 9333 0935 or Jenny Farrar at jenny.farrar@alliance.org.au or 03 9691 7128. |
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