Branch News from Southern Queensland Branch

STOP WORK MEETING PATRICK
Members are reminded of the Stop Work Meeting for Patrick Enterprise Agreement :

Venue: Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Club, Stradbroke Avenue, Wynnum

Dates: 7.00am Wednesday 21st July 2004

MUA Members at Fisherman's Island Terminal and Bulk and General (Maritime)
Members should be aware that the Agreement is to be Certified under the provisions of 170 LJ of the Workplace Relations Act 1996; Agreements with Organisations of Employees. In this regard, members should refer to Rule 10 (l) of the Maritime Union of Australia.

Meeting of the membership at Maritime wharf and Fisherman's Island have determined that one Stop Work meeting would take place. The membership would all have one collective vote for the General Stevedoring Agreement - similarly one collective vote for the Terminal Agreement.

Terminal members had the opportunity via the employee Forum held at the Branch office to direct questions to management in relation to the agreement. Members are congratulated on the foresight shown to facilitate relevant questions and their conduct. The Branch is in the process of seeking clarity with regard to two Clauses raised at the Forum meeting and will report accordingly.

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The Liberal Government claim that it has "only just begun to deregulate the labour market". The Howard Government's glowing endorsement of an Access Economics report on Labor's industrial relations policies reveals its true agenda of full labour market deregulation. Yesterday the Prime Minister embraced the Access Economics report and today workplace relations minister Kevin Andrews gave it a warm cuddle. The report urges further deregulation of the labour market, including a cut in the minimum wage to US levels - from Australia's 61% of median earnings to the US level of 36%. The Government's endorsement of the Access Economics report is an endorsement of further labour market deregulation including the cut in the minimum wage. That policy would cut the Australian minimum wage from $12.30 an hour to $7.30 an hour. Having endorsed the Access Economics report the Howard Government should be honest with the Australian people about its intentions to cut the minimum wage.
The Access Economics report says issues of fairness are best dealt with through the tax and income support systems, not through labour market regulation. But Access Economics does not identify the tax rises or new taxes that should be introduced to pay for the income support to compensate for the cut in the minimum wage. Is the Government advocating new or increased taxes, or is it happy for the minimum wage to fall to $7.30 an hour with no compensating increase in income support?

At a Freehills conference on 12th June 2004 Mr Andrews declared the Liberal Party had "only just begun" to deregulate the labour market. This statement rings through with the Government's warm embrace of the Access Economics report.

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TAX TIME
As reported in last week's Branch News, the Branch is now in receipt of a print out of member's total union contributions ex the Credit Union for taxation purposes.

National office has also circulated a Memo on "Taxation Tips" for members which will be distributed to work areas for the benefit of the membership. Alternatively copies will be available at the Branch office.

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The MUA negotiating team tabled a draft document at the meeting with Port Botany, Fisherman's Island and National Skilled management. The major claims of the document are:

• Span of hours (shift start time and extensions)

• Redundancy

• Equity to have opportunity for overtime

• Labour Review clauses

• Rosters and salaries commensurate with the roster

Deputy Branch Secretary Trevor Munday and Delegate Brett Stokes will attend further negotiations scheduled for 28th, 29th and 30th July.

Deputy President Duncan has not handed down a decision in relation to the consent 111AA Arbitration as to whether our members Bolton and Szegedi applications were unsuccessful with Skilled on the basis of merit. Final submissions were made in this matter in the first week of May.

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DATE 9am on Monday 26th July 2004
VENUE Union rooms, 73 Southgate Avenue, Cannon Hill

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MAY DAY RAFFLE
The second prize of a Gent's watch was drawn on 29th June and the winning ticket No. 9057 was sold by the NW Storm Petrel.

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