MVCC workers enjoy lucrative two-year deal

MVCC workers enjoy lucrative two-year deal

The Australian Services Union has helped workers at Moonee Valley City Council (MVCC) receive an 11 per cent pay rise over the next two years as employees recorded one of their biggest wins at the bargaining table in June.

MVCC staff has accepted a variation of their current EBA, but have pushed for and received some added incentives before a new EBA takes place in 2010.

In a win for prospective mothers, the MVCC will also now offer 18 weeks maternity leave, which can also be taken at half pay for 36 weeks. Mothers also have the option to take two years off without pay and have a right to return to work.

In another big step forward, all staff (apart from school crossing supervisors and some arts and cultural employees) will now be on a minimum band 3, with the provision to progress to the top of the band.

ASU Organiser Leon Wiegard explained the reasoning behind the improved two-year deal.

“There was a real emphasis on getting improved pay and conditions for the home carers and child care workers in this latest agreement, and because of the new legislation that will be in place in 2010, a two-year deal was the ideal result for workers,” said Leon, who announced that the recent pay increases propelled MVCC workers into a great position for the future.

“The recent deal means that it has brought the MVCC up to one of the better paying councils in the state. Our delegates really stood up and they received significant improvement through the deal.  If it wasn’t for their hard work and negotiating, they wouldn’t have received a result,” Leon added.

According to Leon, the favourable result for members can also be attributed to the organising campaign at Moonee Valley City Council, which started earlier this year.

“The MVCC organising campaign gave the ASU a bigger presence among workers of the council, but more importantly it got members and delegates involved on a wider scale, and it has helped them get involved and fight for issues that they find really important at a workplace. As a result, we signed 33 new members at MVCC since the start of the year, which is a fantastic result.”

Bernadette Toohey, a part-time home carer with the MVCC for six years, took part in her first EBA and was pleased with the overall effect.

“I think moving all home care workers up to a band three was a big win, especially considering that it can be very difficult for carers to move into that level. Changing the way management now look at home carers is also a big plus, and obviously the 11 per cent pay rise is ideal,” announced Bernadette, who gained lots of confidence after sitting through her first negotiation of this ilk.

“I would have thought it was going to be impossible for staff members to go through this process, but to have somebody like Leon telling us how it all works and directing us along the right path was such an advantage. It really is crucial to have the union involved. There is no way of knowing about all the legalities that are involved with an EBA without having the expertise the ASU is able to offer.”

Bernadette realises the difficulty in reaching a result that pleases everybody, but believes the recent agreement was a step in the right direction.

“We were prepared to fight for things and it was certainly a team effort. In these negotiations, there is always disappointments. When we got the first offer from management we thought it was fair, but we thought we could get other issues straightened out and we decided to fight for them. It was also important that each work area singled out the things they thought that were important.”

Joining the union as soon as she was hired by the MVCC was an easy decision for Bernadette, and hopes others follow suit.

“I’ve always had the impression that people who aren’t members believe that the union is a bit of a toothless tiger, so I wanted to change that perception. We had put out a newsletter to let everybody know what had been happening in the last 12 months and spoke about things they could use to protect their rights. Leon came to many team meetings and pushed the role of the delegate and union and that worked really well. It’s important for people to see that the union is working for them, and we were able to do that this time around.”

ASU delegate and MVCC worker Bruce Doncon was also very pleased with the latest agreement.

“This is probably my fourth or fifth agreement, and this is the best one we have had in a monetary sense. You will always get some people saying ‘let’s push for more,’ but my understanding is that our deal is one of the best when compared with other councils.”

“I’ve been in the union for 35 years, and I’ve found that those not in the union talk a lot but really don’t put the effort in. They seem to take more notice once they see how the union has helped out. Without the ASU, I am sure we wouldn’t have received the pay increase and new conditions that are now in place. The communication lines are open with management so the next EBA will hopefully be straight forward,” said Bruce.

ASU Vice President Robyn Glascott was also pleased with the result.

“I congratulate the MVCC delegates and members on the excellent outcome achieved in the EBA negotiations. An 11 per cent rise in wages shows that it pays to belong to the ASU.”

 Good result: MVCC worker Bernadette Toohey was pleased with the two-year deal offered.