
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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Work/Time/Life

Flexible Clerks Save Hours

By Mark Hearn

The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.


	ASU Secretary, Michael Want with Members at Davids

Big deal? It was for the workers threatened by Davids "administrative convenience", as one worker described the company's "offer", part of negotiations for a new collective agreement. "Davids was not worrying about us as individuals."

ASU Clerks NSW Branch Secretary Michael Want says Davids flexible working hours regime - providing for a 9 day fortnight or a 19 day month, "allows staff to spend precious time with their families, or deal with the personal needs of life otherwise side-lined by the demands of the working week."

For Margaret Reynolds, the 9 day fortnight means she gets one day out of fourteen to herself. For the last five years, she has minded her two grandchildren, while mum works part-time at the TAB. Every weekend, and two nights during the week. The need to provide unpaid child minding duties is a common story recounted by the women who work flexible hours at Davids.

For Judy Irmisch, her day off is a chance to do the banking, and a rare chance to take the kids to school. "They get so excited", she says. Flexible hours enables her to attend the odd school carnival. For two years, her RDO allowed her to take her husband, suffering from a painful back injury, to consultations and physiotherapy sessions.

Michael Want describes Davids actions as typical of the persistent attempts by many employers to use bargaining negotiations as a means of cutting back on hard-won entitlements. "They seem to see each bargaining round as little more than a crude cost-cutting exercise. If companies want to increase productivity, they need to create a happy workplace environment."

The ASU's stand has increased its support amongst the clerks and administrative staff employed by Davids. Membership has grown since the dispute, and the ASU now has over 100 members employed by the company.

Davids was always "family friendly", as one worker observed. "You need time for your family." Davids clerical and administrative staff will now receive a 4% increase, back-dated to 1 January 2000, without trading away their flexible hours. Davids wants to revisit "the question of hours of work" in the next round of collective agreement negotiations.

Photo caption: ASU Branch Secretary Michael Want with the members at Davids. The ASU successfully blocked an attempt by Davids to take away flexible working hours.

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Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)