PN Bulk EA- Update 47

This afternoon we received some important news. Pacific National Bulk and Coal Members have resolutely endorsed a new enterprise agreement.

62% voted ‘yes’ out of the 89.4% of eligible workers who voted.

This is a great result and demonstrates positive support for your EA delegates’ hard work over the past two years. Thanks to RTBU Locomotive Division members’ commitment and unity, we stopped PN from
their philosophical Part E, that would have seen all new employees on inferior conditions. Instead, we now have an agreement with a fair and just process to review a mixed commodity model that will not just be one sided.

The new agreement sees a one off $1000 gross payment in your next pay, and a 6% wage increase in the first year of the agreement. This will be followed by three more annual increases of 4% and a 2% sunset. 20% in total over the next 4 Years. Additionally, after 20 years of push back your agreement now has compulsory arbitration, the first Pacific National agreement to contain this. A massive win for the PN workforce.

Over the next few weeks, we will be setting in place arrangements for the Transition Committee formation which we will keep you informed about as we progress. Understanding the strong desire expressed by members to establish an all-up wage, we will be undertaking membership engagement seeking your thoughts and ideas of how a mixed commodity model can work and what an all-up wage could/would look like.

We should not underestimate the time and focus needed to work through what a successful all-up wage may look like understanding the current pay and entitlements across both sections of the business. Consideration will need to be given to what is, and isn’t included, and also factor in the different work performed by members across different rosters, regions, and depots. The committee will also work with local representatives to develop a number of options for members to consider and provide feedback on.

Congratulations again. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve finally got an enterprise agreement that will see members receive a much-needed pay increase, some improved conditions and strong protections going
forward.

Download the Newsflash here.