Virgin Blue plans to break EBA

[Wirraway]

AAP

Virgin Blue plans to break EBA: union
November 3, 2004 - 8:49PM

Discount airline Virgin Blue planned to break the terms of its enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) with baggage handling staff, a union said.

But the company's head of commercial operations, David Huttner, said proposed roster and overtime payment changes were well within the agreement with staff.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) Victoria and Tasmania secretary Bill Noonan said the company wanted to change the way it paid overtime to baggage handlers, so staff could work 10 hours one day and six the next but only be paid overtime once they worked over 40 hours in a week.

Baggage handlers would not receive overtime payment for the actual days they worked more than eight hours, as was the case at the moment, he said.

He said that was a breach of the EBA, adding that union delegates would meet at 7am (AEDT) on Thursday at Melbourne Airport to discuss the changes.

"The company is really seeking ... to break that enterprise bargaining agreement," he said.

"We entered into this agreement in good faith, I think it's up to Virgin Blue to hold that good faith position."

Mr Huttner refused to confirm the details of the changes.

"We are operating within our enterprise agreement, which is valid for another year," he said.

"We are ensuring the company runs in the most effective manner."

© 2004 AAP

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[wirgin blew]

Wonder how the OTP will go if the management try and ram through this cost saving measure.
Sounds like a fight waiting to happen.

Keep us updated Wirraway.

:)

[Ultralights]

thats smells a lot like the Qantas Overtime bank clause QF tried to get in the last EBA i was employed there.

[Johhny Utah]

Here's some more on the issue at hand:

AAPnews.com.au: Virgin row over rosters (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11285143%255E1702,00.html)
Virgin row over rosters
By Bianca Wordley and Melissa Jenkins
November 4, 2004

THE Transport Workers' Union (TWU) has decided to take discount airline Virgin Blue to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) over its proposed roster changes for baggage handlers.

The decision followed a meeting of TWU delegates at Melbourne Airport this morning to discuss the issue.

The union argued the roster changes were made without adequate consultation – thereby breaching the enterprise bargaining agreement.

The union said while it was willing to negotiate with the company, the roster proposed was "unacceptable in its present form".

"The company is seeking to introduce a 12-week roster system under which members could be forced to work up to five days straight at up to 10 hours on any day," it said.

The union argued that the company should raise roster issues with staff before imposing the changes.

"It is unacceptable for the company to seek to impose rosters without the agreement of the people on which the company relies to do the work," the union said.

The TWU has recommended members continue to work as normal while the the AIRC deals with the matter.

TWU Victoria and Tasmania secretary Bill Noonan said last night the company was seeking to "break" the enterprise bargaining agreement.

"We entered into this agreement in good faith, I think it's up to Virgin Blue to hold that good faith position," Mr Noonan said.

The airline wants to change the way overtime is paid to baggage handlers, meaning staff could work 10 hours one day and six the next, but only be paid overtime once they worked over 40 hours in a week, Mr Noonan said.

The baggage handlers would not receive overtime for the separate days that they work over eight hours, as was the case now, he said.

The TWU made the application to the AIRC today, claiming Virgin Blue had breached the agreement and was "threatening to take unprotected industrial action against pit crew and guest services members".

The company's head of commercial operations, David Huttner, said yesterday that roster changes were well within the agreement with staff, which expires at the end of next year.

Mr Huttner refused to confirm what the rostering details were.

"We are operating within our enterprise agreement, which is valid for another year," he said.

"We are ensuring the company runs in the most effective manner."

[cunninglinguist]

Geeez, up to 10 hours a day and 5 days a week, talk about harsh!!
would any GA pilots ( and some airline pilots ) care to comment:hmm:

[HGW]

Jeez, 10 hours one day then 6 hours the next day for no less pay. I would think thats not too bad, especially when you get 4 days off in between instead of 3 because of it.

This was taken to the Industrial Commision in Sydney and was thrown out as it was deemed within the current EBA.

It is funny how they didn,t mention that in the report or that the Ramp staff actually were consulted and are keen on it.

[wirgin blew]

HGW, maybe in SYD they were keen on it but VB is national now so the rest of us get to put in our 2 cents.
The main problem for most was the fact that you finished on a late 2100-00300 finish had 2 days off and started on a early 0430-0600 start. Effectively giving you a day off. Which might be ok if you work 9-5 which the people writing the rosters are doing. So whats wrong with sticking with the current roster of 3 mornings, 3 arvos, 3 off. At least we might be able to use our staff travel occassionally.

:ok:

[HGW]

Hi Wirgin Blew
You are right with the late finish then early start. That is a cr*p roster. My understanding of it was that this was rejected by the Consultative Committee. The union didn't reject it, the staff did through the mechanism in place in the EBA.
I agree with the 6-3 roster being more user friendly but needs to be tweaked to allow better coverage when required. All I say is don't believe everything the union says. They have a reason for wanting your membership money other than to help you. Go to the company with a roster that meets the staff and business requirements and they will put it in place. You don't need the union for that.

[Flying Kangaroo]

Today's Flight international has an interesting article about VB, it states that the carrier is about to make a business case for an order for up to 20 ERJ170/190...

Interesting times ahead...