NBN Bargaining Update : 12 December 2024
At our bargaining meeting on December 5th, NBN responded to the following bargaining claims:
- Storage Allowance: The Union has requested a $50 per week allowance for storing NBN equipment and materials.
- NBN claimed that employees are not required to store any equipment or materials at home, as suitable storage facilities have been provided by the company. Despite feedback from bargaining representatives that employees do, in fact, store equipment and materials, NBN has rejected this claim, citing the clear productivity savings from traveling directly from the storage facility to the job site.
- Workplace Responsibility Allowance: The Union is claiming a $50 per week allowance for roles such as first aid officer, health and safety representative, emergency warden, harassment contact officer, and mental health contact officer. The Union believes these added responsibilities, some of which are unpaid and performed outside normal duties, should be compensated.
- NBN has rejected this claim.
- Log On and Travel Arrangements: The Union and bargaining reps have lodged a claim that travel to the first job of the day and home from the last job of the day should be recognized as paid work time, either occurring during ordinary time or paid at the appropriate overtime rate.
- NBN has rejected this claim, relying on clauses within the current agreement. The Union and bargaining reps have rejected this response.
- On-Call Arrangements: Our claim was to increase the on-call payment to 30% of the base rate and set a minimum call-out time of 2 hours where no travel is required, and 4 hours where travel is required, with the on-call allowance continuing to be paid when performing on-call work.
- Despite employees sacrificing precious time with their families and friends to be on call, and the disruptive hours employees can be called out, NBN has rejected this claim.
- Shift Penalties: We have lodged a claim for an increase in shift penalties, believing that the current penalties are not suitable compensation for the unsociable hours employees are expected to work.
- NBN has rejected this claim.
- Personal/Carers and Annual Leave: We do not believe that current entitlements to personal/carers and annual leave are suitable. Currently, NBN pays less than other public sector agencies and government business enterprises. We do not believe that NBN has the right to treat its employees any differently.
- NBN has rejected this claim.
Throughout the bargaining process, NBN has consistently rejected most of the claims put forward by your Union, claiming that any increase in conditions would impact their ability to offer what they believe is a suitable pay increase. At our last meeting on December 5th, your Union requested that NBN present their proposed pay offer at our next meeting. This meeting was to be held on December 12th, but unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, NBN has cancelled this meeting. Bargaining is set to recommence on January 9th, and we look forward to seeing what NBN considers a suitable pay offer.
Your Union remains committed to fighting to improve your conditions and negotiating a decent pay increase that addresses the current cost of living pressures all employees face.
