Mobile members who spend busy days criss-crossing Sydney to do repairs have given themselves a lift by getting a better deal at work.
The on-road duties of the mobile forklift mechanics at Crown Equipment mean they rarely ever have a chance to get together as a group met twice in the past month to secure a new agreement for pay rises of 3 per cent a year for the next three years.
They formally voted up their new union agreement this week.
AMWU State Secretary Tim Ayres said the determination of nearly 80 members had delivered an outcome that bettered many industry pay rises.
It sets the union in good stead to ensure that future work targets are realistic and reasonable as they deal with Sydney traffic and with some customers reluctant to pay for repairs and parts for their forklifts.
“Members showed their strength and unity – it’s a credit to our delegates Ray Hankinson and Sam Vassallo,” Mr Ayres said.
Workers rejected an unfair initial wage offer of 2 per cent with no RDO.
Ray Hankinson (pictured left) said a final hurdle had been after-hours personal use of vans.
Crown had tried to limit use to within 20km of the members’ home, but relented when delegates insisted on a 40km radius if the agreement was to be approved.
“Personal use of the van is a real sticking point, it really is part of the attraction of the job,” Mr Hankinson said.
“In practical terms it will mean no-change for nearly all of our members, that gives them the freedom to use their vans across most of the Sydney basin where they live.”