FPC Courier Newspaper employees who are members of the Alliance have voted in favour of the proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2006-2008. The voting took place at the company head office in Alexandria last Friday just ahead of the new industrial relations legislation taking effect.

Immediately after this process The Alliance made an application on behalf of its members to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to have the enterprise agreement certified under the “friendlier” old industrial relations legislation.

Last Friday, members agreed to accept the company’s pay offer of 3%. The new rates of pay are as follows:

Grade      1 April 2006        1 April 2007  
1               $729.20               $751.10  
2               $795.40               $819.25  
3               $864.65               $890.60  
4               $940.50               $968.70  
5               $1057.65             $1089.40  
6               $1113.30             $1146.70  
7               $1210.20             $1246.50  
8               $1338.25             $1378.40  

Cadets

Year 1      $477.25               $491.60  
Year 2      $596.50               $614.40  
Year 3      $636.30               $655.40

The proposed agreement has been distributed to all employees. A final vote will take place on the 7th of April, in compliance with the previous legislation that requires the document be with employees for 14 days before voting can take place. Certification of the agreement will follow the final voting process.