Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Kelty: unions must put work and family issues high on enterprise bargaining agenda
Download PDF KELTV; UNIONS MUST PUI WORK AND FAMILY ISSUES
HIGH ON ENTEReRISE BA~GAINING AGENDA
EMSARG0:3.30pm Friday November 19 ~ 92~-'~
ACiU Secretary, Bill Kelty, said today it was imperative that unions put work and family issues high on their agenda in enterprise bargaining.
v If unions are to be relevant to employees they have to be responsive to the needs
of particuletr groups such as working parents, w he said.
Bill Kelty cmd ACTU Ass istant Secretary Jennie George today released the ACTU's new guidelines on " Work and Family'' Issues to assist union officials in enterprise b~rgaining .
" If the new enterprise agreements are to truly reflect the particular needs of workers and their companies it is essential that such issues es emergency family leave, more flexible work options, and chlldcara are Incorporated into all agreements,â‘ Mr Kelty said.
II But such Changes are not just for the sake of fairness to workers who are trying to
juggle work and family life, they al$0 make cood business sense."
Jennie George said the ACTU book included good examples of enterprise agreements which have addressed work and family Issues sueh as the Sheraton Southgate Hotel, Mission Energy, AN2 Bank and Optus.
Ms George particularly praised the Sheraton chain.
"Sheraton's work and family policies give hospitality workers, who are often expected to work unusual ar'ld often unsociable hours, positive support; helping their employees maintain and build careers without putting excessive pressures on their family life.
" The hospitality industry Is important to Australia. Sheraton is showing that a competitive edge doesn't always lead to cost-cutting at the expense of employees," Ms George said.
P1 of 2
I
Mr Kelty and Ms George al5o eongrstulated the Flight Attendants Association of Australia for negotiating both an innovative emergency family leave provision and a ground-breaking flexible reduced working hours provision as part of their Enterprise Agreement with Australian Airlines.
This agreement is being used as a 'pilot agreement' which at a later stage will be made available to all Australian Airlines employees.
In the family leave provisions Flight Attendants will now be allowed 7 days per year leave when the flight attendant provides certification of an immediate family member requiring the flight attendant to care for that person.
In the flexible reduced working hours provision -which te to be introduced next year " flight attendants will be gtven the option of working half the normal hours and choose work hours which svit the rndlvidual "s personal needs such as child care and study. The flight attendant will have tha option of working full-time some months of the year.
The Ffight Attendants Association of Australia negotiated these provisions foilowlng surveys of their membership which showed that over the last decade major changes In the demographics of domestic flight attendants.
A decade ago no male flight attendants were employed by domestic airlines; only a third of flight attendants wets married and less than 1 per cent had children.
Today eighteen pQt cent of domestic flight attendants are male; fifty..one pefcent are married and seventeen percent have children.
The ACTU Work and Family Issues guidelines released today take into account the massrve changes that have occurred over the last decade with women â‘ now comprising nearly half the workforce.
The guioellnes are a detailed 'how to' guide for union officials seeking to Include a range of 'work and family' Issues Into their enterprise agreements.
They also list enterprises where some of these Issues have been introduced , . successfully.
The guidelines cover issues such as employ~r-subsidised childcare, leave for workers with sick famny membars, flexibfe working hours, eareer breaks. working from home and parental le~ve.
The guidelines were prepared by ACTU Industrial Officer lola Mathews. They provide a checklist tor union negotiCltors. relevant ACTU policys draft clauses for enterprise agreements, and examples of companies which al'e already implementing good work and family policies.
: . .,.. . . . . '' .. ~ â‘..:. . . ' â‘ -. ... â‘ " " ' " " \!1' ' " ~. " " ~. . 't--------------â‘--â‘â‘~----.-------------------------~
.. ~ â‘ .â‘ Forfurther Information pleaSe contact foJa Matt19ws 'anâ‘ 663 5655(W) or 569 B459(h).
