Friday, March 4, 2011

TNT defiant as Union WINS right to strike on super

TNT vowed to resist a Union wage and pension fund that will reach the enterprise with a series of rolling strikes across the country on Friday.

TNT Australia Director Bob Black yesterday warned that the company's viability in Australia would come under pressure if agreed to claim the transport workers Union.

As part of an effort to protect promotions with major carriers, TNT employees have earned the right to take six strikes four hours on Friday. The company said that the action was a 24-hour strike.

Officials also voted to impose an indefinite prohibition on loading and unloading of vehicles operated by outside hire companies in all sites of TNT on Saturday.

Tony Sheldon, federal Secretary of the Union, criticized the company to cancel a new round of negotiations planned for today, saying the action showed that the company was taking the Union claim seriously.

TNT and the Union agreed to a salary increase of 8 per cent over two years, but the company rejected an application for a contribution of 2% extra for employer superannuation. The Union also wants to raise rates site for employees hired on an occasional or work.

Employers have warned that the exercise of similar claims in different companies was trading pattern, but workplace relations Minister Chris Evans insisted that the fair work Act prohibits the practice.

Mr Black declared that the salary increase of 4 percent annual offered to employees was fair and reasonable, above the rate of inflation and productivity did not require trade-offs.

He said the company had offered generous redundancy and enhanced leave arrangements TWU delegates. While about 2500 employee drivers and dockhands TNT would offer national, Mr Black said 747 TWU Members voted in favour of industrial action. He said the company would boost cash payments only employer pension in line with federal law.

"TWU Claims beyond the proposed wage increase could increase TNT's annual operating costs by about $ 10 million," he said.

"These costs are not sustainable and would put pressure on viability of TNT in Australia".

He said he wouldn't expect employees to participate in the action "unjustified", which said it would hurt the company and its customers.

Sheldon Lord said the company was excluding casual employees and 3000 to rental does not include a rate for the site agreement. He said that TNT should negotiate an increase in pension fund taking into account the workers worked in "an industry that has physically demanding job where you can't continue working until you're 65".

"There needs to be a little give and take from the company about this and still have decreased," he said.

"In General, employees of TNT are outraged with the attitude of the administration. We had an incident in South Australia where TNT needed management and Rental informal workers to resume work once the work has been exposed to asbestos. "


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1 comment:

  1. I was working at TNT via Adecco and was unavailable to work on the day of the last strike 28th Jan.

    On the Monday I let Adecco know that I would not be available to work on the Friday.

    I wasn't going to be a scab against my workmates for the benefit of TNT.

    I received a veiled threat to my employment security during that week.

    On The day of the strike I received multiple (unanswered) calls to go to work at TNT.

    TNT have refused to employ me since that day.

    It would appear that I am the only one who lost their job as a result of the strike.

    Is this community-minded action from TNT?

    I think not -childish more like it!

    ReplyDelete