AWESOME TO THE CORE - MEMBERS AT APPLE IMPROVE WAGES & CONDITIONS

IT’S BEEN A LONG AND FRUSTRATING NATIONAL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT (NEA) NEGOTIATIONS AT APPLE WITH THE COMPANY CONTINUALLY REFUSING TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH.

This left the Australian Services Union (ASU) no choice but to lodge a dispute with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) earlier this year for better pay and conditions. Recently, mediation has taken place with FWC Commissioner Alana Matheson as Chair. Having this type of mediation has resulted in fairer and more expedient bargaining meetings and puts the onus on Apple to be more responsive and accountable.

Finally, we’re starting to get some positive outcomes to our reasonable claims with Commissioner Matheson recently encouraging bargaining representatives to unite to get the best deal at Apple as soon as possible.

ASU members uniting and staying strong has resulted in more movement from Apple management to improve pay and conditions which include increased penalty and shift rates which reflect the impact of working unsocial and irregular hours and fairer rostering options for full time employees. For part-time retail workers, overtime will now be triggered when an employee exceeds the maximum number of hours in their chosen range rather than the current 38-hours, unless the employee requests additional hours.

There will now also be 25 per cent loading for casual employees which will be applied to the minimum Enterprise Agreement pay rates, instead of the lower Award pay rates. Best of all, the guaranteed pay rise for all NEA covered employees will be highest of the NEA or the FWC Annual Wage Review!

These new developments also come on top of the gains ASU have already made at Apple including:

• Improvements to weekend penalty rates;

• 10 days of gender affirmation leave;

• Improved sick leave provisions; and

• Expanded definitions for family for all leave types and bereavement leave to include cultural events and sorry business.

Members at Apple are strong in their resolve for fair wages and working conditions. They recently attended a national meeting on Wednesday, 31 May to further cement their resolve in achieving an NEA which reflects and rewards the work our members do. Union membership density is also steadily growing across the nation at Apple with a number of members stepping up to become Delegates. Many thanks to our Delegates who have been attending Delegates Training as well promoting the benefits of union membership and collective bargaining.