11 Feb 2008

PROPOSAL FOR RATIFICATION

Negotiations that commenced in early December to renew the CANZ / Prison Services Collective Agreement have reached a final offer position and the proposal will now proceed to a full round of ratification meetings.

A FULL ROUND OF RATIFICATION MEETINGS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN A SUBSEQUENT UPDATE.

The attached information is a summary of the proposed settlement and more detailed information in respect to the various occupational groups, e.g.: Corrections Officers, Nurses, Administration Workers will be made available closer to the ratification meetings.

The pay offer is a going rate offer. The Unions Negotiators have argued that the pressures of the NZ labour market and the pressures of short staffing within the Prison Service require a better than going rate offer.

The Departments Negotiators say they are unable to offer anything more than the going rate, as Treasury has only allocated a going rate budget for this wage round.

There are a number of other improvements to the Collective Agreement including the Stat. Days clause that will benefit most Corrections Officers and Nurses.

However the parties have agreed to the Union proposal of a Flexible Work Practices Project which, subject to final scoping and resource will examine the feasibility of flexible shifts and working arrangements and their suitability to different sites. This project is not another Working Party, but a facilitated process, prison by prison that will include involving every member of the Union at some point. The Project will offer the possibility of delivering a number of significant improvements for members including safer staffing and the prospect of further enhancements to the Wages and Conditions of all CANZ members, during the term of the agreement. The Term of 32 months was a consideration in agreeing to the project.

The Union’s National Officers are yet to consult with the CANZ National Executive, to make a recommendation regarding this offer, which will be conveyed at ratification meetings to be announced.

BE ACTIVE IN YOUR UNION! HAVE YOUR SAY!

ATTEND THE RATIFICATION MEETING AT YOUR PRISON!

CANZ! THE DEMOCRATIC UNION