RATIFICATION UPDATE

26^TH March 2008

DEAL VOTED DOWN

CANZ Members have given the thumbs down to the Departments offer on the CANZ – PS Collective Agreement.

Following a full round of meetings, which included separate meetings for Nurses and Administration Workers, 72% of CANZ Members said no thanks.

In a separate vote 82% of CANZ Members voted to give the CANZ National Officers the ability to give consideration to possible forms of Industrial Action should further negotiations not make satisfactory progress.

The CANZ Negotiating Team is entering into immediate talks on Thursday 27 March with the Department to report the concerns expressed at the Union meetings about the offer, and is moving back into negotiation mode in an attempt to seek a better deal.

MEMBERS EXPRESS CONCERNS.

THE TERM

A lot of members expressed concern about the proposed term of 2 years 8 months.

Many felt this term was too long, and believe that a previous long term agreement allowed Corrections Staff wages to fall behind.

THE MONEY

Many members believe the offer does not match inflation. The Union has presented the official Reserve Bank Inflation predictions of 3% at Ratification Meetings, but the reality for most working people is that the cost of petrol and the rising cost of food means that the real cost of inflation for workers is higher.

THE FLEXIBLE WORK PROJECT

There has been a lot of support for the Union initiative to participate in a Flexible Work Project with the Department. The Unions commitment to underpin any proposals with the principal that all staff benefit from any changes, and that no changes will occur without full Membership participation in the decisions.

THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

All shift and rostered workers, which is most Corrections Officers and Nurses have welcomed the return of Public Holiday entitlements on Rostered Days off.

HIGHER DUTIES ALLOWANCE

The Departments Offer to reduce the qualifying period for SCOs and PCOs temporarily Acting Up to Higher positions by 1 day, has been seen by most members as pretty mean spirited, and the Union will continue to pursue this option.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

The Union will make a concerted effort to convince the Department to reconsider their position. Any progress made with the Department, will be reported in future UPDATES

On behalf the Negotiating Team