CANZ Officials and Representatives from CIE Management met in Mediation yesterday, and the outcome of that meeting is a new proposal that will secure the Collective Employment Agreement for CIE employees, and enable CIE / CANZ Members to vote on a variation to the Collective Agreement that will see Muster Payments flow on to CIE employees for the term of the Agreement, backdated to 12 December 2005.

The term of the proposed Collective Agreement and the proposed Muster Payment Variation to the Collective Agreement is to 30 June 2006.

Other components of the new proposal are:

1. Replace the Performance Bonus of up to 5% with 3% on the base salary, backdated to July 1 2005.
2. Pay accrued TOIL balances (not including stat days) to 30 November 2005 (excluding Dairy) The balance to be paid on settlement of the Agreement.
3. Replace TOIL with overtime (except as per variations).
4. Increase Call Back Travel Allowance from 40 cents to 60 cents.
5. Amend Agreement to accommodate Holidays Act Amendments.

The contentious issue of the Variations being attached to the Collective Agreement has also been resolved with the Employer agreeing to withdraw from this position. This means that the 2 existing Variations to the Collective Agreement, the Forestry Variation and the Primary Sector Farm Staff (Dairy) will be re-ratified. Variations to the Collective Agreement for Pre Cast and Other Farm Staff will also be discussed and hopefully ratified following the normal Variations process. In the meantime the Union is requesting all CANZ Members to work to their normal work patterns.

Because of the timing of this new proposal, the Ratification process will probably not be completed until the end of January because so many CIE / CANZ Members are on Annual Leave.

BACKGROUND TO NEW PROPOSAL.

The employer has been consistent from day one of this current negotiation in stating that there is no money available for any increases to remuneration at any level for CIE employees. However at the same time that CANZ has been in negotiations for the CIE Agreement, CANZ has also been in negotiations over the National Muster Allowance, and the Union has maintained the position consistently that the Muster Payments should also flow on to ALL CANZ Members. The outcome has been the offer of a payment of $18.00 per shift for people whose workload is affected by the Increase to Musters. (Catering and Laundry) and a payment of $10 per shift for all other CIE staff covered by the Collective.

A WAY FORWARD.

The Union is recommending this current proposal to CIE / CANZ members as it offers a way forward. Acceptance of the proposal will mean that CIE / CANZ Members are once again afforded the protection of a Collective Agreement, and the short term (30 June 2006) means that the Union will be back into negotiations with the Department. This expiry date is also the expiry date of the PPS Collective Agreement. Also by voting to accept the Proposal, CIE / CANZ Members are then able to vote to accept the Muster Shift Payment Variation to the Collective Agreement.

INDUSTRIAL ACTION WITHDRAWN

The Union has withdrawn the proposed Xmas Day strike by Hawkes Bay Catering Staff, but acknowledges and thanks those CANZ Members who were prepared to consider some form of action to re-establish the Collective Agreement.

RATIFICATION

The Union will publish a further UPDATE with an announcement on Meetings, Times and venues for the Ratification Process.

Beven Hanlon
CANZ National President.

The CANZ National Officers wish all Members all the Best for the Festive Season1