AMWU members at Orora’s beverage cans facility in Canning Vale have used the union’s national reach to shed light on dubious management claims during recent Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
AMWU members at Orora’s beverage cans facility in Canning Vale have used the union’s national reach to shed light on dubious management claims during recent Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
Frustrated by company assertions of inferior conditions interstate and threats to shift production away from WA, the AMWU was able to link interstate delegates to compare notes, which revealed (surprise, surprise) exaggerations and hyperbole from managers.
The exercise ultimately put our Orora bargaining team in a stronger position and meant better pay and conditions in their agreement as a result.
Knowlege is power: Orora delegates and Andrew Heatherington and Glenn Storey
AMWU delegate and process worker Glenn Storey says it was an easy way to empower the union negotiating team.
“It was a great way to keep management honest, because until our organiser Michelle made contact interstate we had no real way of verifying management’s claims.
“They’d start telling us this or that and expect us to accept it, but talking with other delegates across the country helped us check what they were saying.”
Glenn says that any group of workers at companies with a national footprint should consider using the union’s Australia-wide structure to combat managers’ divide-and-conquer tactics.
“If members have that option I’d definitely recommend taking advantage of it. Just getting all the facts is really important,” he said.
If you work at a national enterprise, make sure you talk to your organiser about using the AMWU’s national coverage to improve your bargaining position.
Knowledge is power!