Sanna Peden, Andrew Broertjes and The Workload Creep comparing our log of claims and everything we know about management priorities
We remain far apart on the amount of time release required for the effective and efficient conduct of bargaining. Management wants to limit our preparation time to one hour before each meeting and one hour debrief afterwards. Their proposed time is plainly insufficient given the amount of reading, research, member consultation, correspondence and deliberation involved, and well short of the sector standard (ranging between 0.2FTE and 0.5FTE).
In some respects their lack of awareness of the process is understandable, given no one on the management side was involved in bargaining last time. What is not appropriate is the delay it will likely cause in reaching an agreement with a decent pay rise and better working conditions.
Management has walked back their request for written permission from each of our line managers before each individual bargaining meeting, which is a positive development.
We go into the end of year break still with no idea what management’s goal in this round of bargaining is. We had asked for their Log of Claims to be presented at, or prior to, this meeting, and they have not done so, and are unlikely to before February.
The next few weeks will be a good time to recharge and refocus. There are many ways – big and small – that you can contribute to bargaining in this time. For example, you can provide testimonials to help support specific claims, or put up posters or arrange union meetings in your local area.
Contact the branch and we’ll get you started!