HACSU MEMBERS AT CBS HAVE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO REJECT CBS MANAGEMENT’S
LATEST EBA OFFER. MANAGEMENT REMAINS DETERMINED TO PUT ITS INADEQUATE OFFER
OUT TO A BALLOT OF ALL CBS WORKERS SO HACSU WILL CONTINUE WITH ITS INDUSTRIAL
CAMPAIGN.
At a meeting last week, HACSU Members at Community Based Support voted overwhelmingly to reject an
inadequate and unfair Enterprise Bargaining Agreement offer from CBS management. While acknowledging
the offer was a small improvement on a previous offer, Members said it would still lead to significant losses
to pay and conditions.
Management’s offer:
• creates a two-tier workforce
• increases wages just 0.7% a year
• strips away key entitlements and allowances
“Members say they cannot accept a situation where current workers and new workers are paid differently
for performing the same work,” says HACSU Assistant State Secretary Robbie Moore.
“It was unfair in December 2013 when it was proposed and rejected, and it is unfair now.”
Management’s pay offer will see workers’ wages go backwards in real terms.
“A 2% increase over three years is clearly inadequate and completely fails to keep pace with the increasing
cost of living,” Robbie Moore says. “This offer is well below the expected minimum wage decision of the
Fair Work Commission, which is the benchmark for low-paid community workers.”
The offer cancels entitlements for excess fares, minimum engagement, afternoon and night shifts, 24-hour
rates and sleep-overs. And it strips staff of their right not to accept broken shifts.
“Broken shifts inflict an additional burden on workers,” Robbie Moore says.
“Any responsible employer that cares about its workers would be happy to negotiate broken shifts, not
seek to impose them.”
CBS posted a profit last year and is on track to post another surplus this year. To date it has produced no
evidence to show it cannot afford to maintain workers’ wages and conditions.
Meanwhile, HACSU has received hundreds of signed pledges and photographs affirming strong community
support for CBS workers.
“The community shows more support for CBS workers than the CBS board and its management. It is time
CBS lived up to the ideals it claims, and shows it cares about its workers.”
HACSU will roll out a radio campaign on southern commercial radio from today – Monday 19 May.
Download:
HACSU_CBS_Ben.mp3
Assistant State Secretary Robbie Moore
