PN Intermodal Outsourced Projects Enterprise Agreement Update

The RTBU has taken further industrial action this week with three 24-hour work stoppages on 15, 16 and 17 December 2020.

As you are aware, the RTBU must comply with Federal Court orders and stop industrial action to the extent necessary to avoid the dumping of hot metal. This has meant, unfortunately, that some of you have had to work during this stoppage. We know this isn’t ideal, but we appreciate those of you who have agreed to do this.

Offer put to Pacific National

With your endorsement, on 16 November 2020, we put the following position to Pacific National:

1. A 4% pay increase from 1 January 2021 until the end of Pacific National’s contract with BlueScope; and
2. A 3.5% pay increase from 1 January 2021 until the end of Pacific National’s contract with BlueScope, with a one-off of $2,000 per employee. The RTBU is willing to negotiate the timing and phrase of the one-off payment. For example, as either a sign on or retention payment.

As a sign of good faith, the RTBU also notified Pacific National of its cancellation of the 24- hour work stoppages scheduled for 24 December, 25 December, and 26 December 2020 in anticipation of a meeting as soon as possible so the parties can resolve the issues in dispute.

We are waiting on a response to this. In the meantime, there is further industrial action scheduled for next week, with two further 24-hour work stoppages on 21 December 2020 and 22 December 2020. There is still an indefinite ban on overtime and a ban on piloting duties and the unloading of limestone wagons until 11:59pm on 24 December 2020.

Picket

At this stage we will hold a picket line between 10.30am and 2pm outside the main gates at BlueScope on Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Fair Work

If we are unable to resolve these issues in dispute, we will be in the Fair Work Commission for a conference at 10am on 18 January 2020.

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