This is where you'll find all the information you need to know about the National Distribution Union's 2009 bargaining at The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery.

The NDU would have liked to have bargained for a new collective agreement earlier, however the union's resources have been focusing on Project Invigorate which had led to major changes for many individuals, reductions in staffing levels and bullying in some stores. Now that the main regions have been "invigorated", we have intiated bargaining and we are awaiting dates for bargaining in July 2009.

Top Claims

The following 12 claims are the top claims voted by union members at store meetings across the country held late last year and earlier this year.

• A fair pay step system
• A livable wage
• Adequate sick leave
• A nightfill allowance
• Overtime rates (time and a half)
• Equal pay and conditions for WSL
• Security of hours, days
• Protection of our terms and conditions
• Reasonable workloads
• Recognition of long service
• Respect
• The right to organise

Bargaining Team

The following eight delegates were elected by delegates at regional delegates meetings in April this year. There are five regional delegates, one national nightfill delegate, one national Store Development delegate and one Warehouse Stationery delegate.

Andrea Hussey
Nightfill
Whangarei
5 years
Nightfill

Albert Masagnay
Far-North – Auckland
Botany Downs
4 years
Admin

Megan McLean
Waikato – Bay of Plenty
Taupo
10 years
Everywhere

Frankie Watson
Top of South – Christchurch
Riccarton
10 years
Stockroom

Angela Barker
Dunedin – Deep South
Invercargill
Off and on 8 years
Homeware

Ataria Taiwati
Central - Wellington
New Plymouth
11 years
Ticketting

Seth Hunuhunu
Store D. Development
Store D. Wellington
4 years
Store Development

Bronson Perich
Warehouse Stationery
Albany
10 months
Business Machines

Maxine Gaye
National Distribution Union
Bargaining Advocate
National Retail Secretary of the NDU

Simon Oosterman
National Distribution Union
Organiser

The Bargaining Process

Step 1: Claims meetings in every store
The union holds claims meetings in every store. Every worker has the opportunity to attend one of the three meetings: morning, afternoon and nightfill. Each meeting will vote on their 10 most important claims. Those working during the meeting will be paid to attend. Non-union members who are not working may attend but will have to join the union to vote. Non-union members who are working during the meeting will have to join to be able to attend.

Step 2: National or regional delegates meeting
Delegates from each store meet regionally or nationally to do bargaining and campaign training around the 10 most important claims as voted by stores. Delegates will elect the national bargaining team, with representatives from each region and company based on membership numbers.

Step 3: Bargaining
The national bargaining team and union advocate will sit down and bargain with the company. It is important to remember that just as the union will have claims that would improve the agreement for you the company will also have claims that they want, and which you may not like. The union will regularly communicate with union members about progress throughout the bargaining progress and will involve all members in any campaigns to strengthen our bargaining position.

Step 4: Ratification meeting
When the union and company have a significant offer to be voted on, it will be brought back to members. Nationwide store meetings will be held for staff to vote on the offer. If the offer is rejected the national union bargaining team will go back to bargaining with the company and the process will be repeated.
No agreement will be signed up to without being voted on by members at a store meeting.

"The company says WPU members in the NDU will not be covered?"

All stores received a letter from the company saying the NDU agreement won’t cover workers who are also in the WPU or who resigned from the WPU after the 1st of August 2007.
This is legally correct but it is possible for the company to pass on any pay rise and improvements to conditions to all NDU members and this is what your bargaining team will be pushing for.
When we first came to The Warehouse Group we raised this issue with members. Many staff members did not realise they had signed a three year deal with the non-union or WPU. Others says they voted against it.
Under the law you can be in the NDU and the WPU, but you are bound by the first collective agreement signed, which in this case is the three year WPU deal which expires on August 1 2010. After this date this problem will be gone and we will be bargaining for all our members from a stronger position.