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Issue No. 151 | 06 September 2002 |
Looking for the Light
Interview: Packing a Punch Bad Boss: Basher Takes Back Passage Unions: Five Star Shafting Economics: TINA � Rest In Peace International: Against Bush's "War on Terrorism" Environment: Saving the World History: A Radical Scribe Poetry: With A Little Help From My Friend Satire: Colonel Gaddafi Promotes Himself to General Review: Workplace Dictatorship
Grassroots Drives Safety Campaign Deloittes Curry Favour on Sub-Continent Rail Workers Buck Individual Contract Wage Bribe Bush Regenerators Weed Out Dodgy Deal Hairdresser Wins Fight For Wage Justice Cabin Crews Argue for �Safety in Numbers� �Slave Labour� In Insurance Industry Beattie Plods into Risky Territory
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review Bosswatch Women
Charity Begins At Home
Labor Council of NSW |
The Soapbox Ian West on Suncorp MetwayExtract from the NSW Legislative Council Hansard of 03/09/2002
************* I draw the attention of honourable members to the case of an employer union telling staff what to do. At a time when freedom of association is being trumpeted, this is an alarming case of a large company acting against the interests of its employees by trying to reduce their entitlements and shift them into the company's own employee council. Last week Suncorp Metway, which describes itself as the sixth largest bank and the second largest insurance company in Australia, announced a $311 million profit. Suncorp's Chairman, John Lamble, credited this result to the performance of the GIO business, which Suncorp bought last year. Mr Lamble believes GIO will continue to be profitable for Suncorp in the future. This profit is no surprise when Suncorp's human resources tactics are revealed. Mr Lamble wants to cut the conditions of some 2,400 GIO employees and to use the employer union, the Suncorp Metway Employee Council, to do it. GIO employees are being offered a bribe to transfer to Suncorp before June 2003. What is the generous offer? A $250 share option. The Industrial Relations Commission previously found Suncorp's staff association, or employee council, to be management driven and fully funded by the company for the sole purpose of avoiding employee unions and the wrath of the commission. Suncorp's unique employee council is now incorporated and is seeking to extend its influence to GIO workers. It pays the salaries and expenses of the industrial staff who travel around the country spreading the message of Suncorp and how wonderful the company is to its employees. It proudly claims to represent employee interests while offering them inferior working conditions. The only thing the employer union seems to do is promote the company's interests at the expense of its employees. For example, the enterprise agreement contains a "start before you start" clause: Employees must turn up for work anywhere between 15 minutes to half an hour early and not be paid for it. The agreement covers more than 2,000 employees, some 1,500 of whom work full time. If each of these employees were to work without pay for only 30 minutes every day, it would amount to two and a half hours unpaid work every week per employee. At a base rate of $15 an hour, the company would save $37.50 per week or more than $1,800 per employee per year. No wonder Mr Lamble is optimistic about spending $250 for a share offer and saving $1,550 in unpaid wages. That constitutes a very profitable bargain indeed. Employees can also be required to work any day of the week, seven days a week. The New South Wales Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. John Della Bosca, intends to legislate to allow Saturday trading for banks in New South Wales, but only if employees are protected against exploitation. I say tongue in cheek that Mr Lamble or Mr Della Bosca need not worry about Suncorp because it is generous enough to offer them single time for weekend work! It is ironic that yet again the employer union is representing the interests of employees. I am told that in Queensland the employees sought representation from the Finance Sector Union but that the union rarely receives a return call from Suncorp. Suncorp will not deal with the union and the company's own union has already said that the agreement is appropriate to cover GIO staff. However, GIO workers have a different view. In July a majority of GIO workers voted to keep their current GIO agreement and conditions. Suncorp Metway recently competed with the Bank of Queensland for prime sponsorship of the Queensland Reds rugby union team. Suncorp seriously considered topping the successful bid of $3.5 million by the Bank of Queensland. It could find millions for a logo on a football jersey but can only provide GIO workers with unpaid work under the "start before you start" clause. Instead of chasing rugby jumpers, Suncorp Metway should be more concerned about what the community thinks of its employee council attempting to cut staff conditions after a record company profit. I call on Mr Lamble to give GIO workers a fair go. They are entitled to proper union representation when negotiating their conditions and they should not be told what to do by their own employer. After all, a majority of them voted that way and, therefore, they are entitled to join the union of their choice and to have that union recognised by their employer.
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