Project Invigorate is coming to your store

The Warehouse is restructuring it’s retail stores nationwide in 2009.

These changes will have an impact on you and your co-workers.

Download the leaflet.

Make sure you know your rights.

The Invigorate Process

Week 1: Launch Meetings

Each meeting goes for two hours and includes a manager’s presentation and a change workshop.

The NDU will hold a meeting at the end of the presentation to inform you of your rights throughout the Invigorate process.

Week 2: Meetings about your preferences

At 1 on 1 meetings you will be asked whether you have any flexibility in your hours and days of work and if there are any changes you would like to make. Only suggest potential changes if you really want to work them. Do not agree to any changes at this meeting and point out any problems in the suggested changes.

Take your delegate this meeting.

Week 3 & 4: "Ideal"/"Blue line" Roster

The “Ideal” roster will be put up in your store. It is the company’s “wish list”. It will be clear what changes you can expect to be asked to make. You do not have to fit perfectly in it. The company will ask for feedback and volunteers.

The NDU will attend store meetings about this new roster.

Week 5: Proposed new individual rosters

You will be given a proposed new roster and a feedback form at a 1 on 1 meeting. Some managers try and negotiate new hours here, but this is not the correct process. Don’t suggest any changes that you aren’t keen on.

We encourage you to take a delegate to this meeting.

Week 6 & 7: Consultation

If you have any issues over the proposed changes (however small) you should fill in the feedback form before the deadline. If you have any problems with your proposed roster tell your delegate or call the NDU.

The NDU is available to hold store meetings if needed.

Week 8: "Confirmation" meetings

This is where you will be given the company’s “final” roster. If you still have problems with it you should take a union organiser to negotiate for you. If you don’t have representation and you aren’t happy with the final roster DO NOT SIGN and call the union.

You can take an NDU organiser to negotiate changes for you.

Week 9+: The Panel

If you have not reached agreement on your proposed new roster your case will be referred to a head office panel made up of human resource managers from The Warehouse.

The NDU will represent you at this panel. You do not have to be present.

Week 10+: Mediation

If the Warehouse Panel does not come up with a satisfactory outcome for you, your case will then be referred to a Department of Labour Mediator who has the right to make a final determination.

The NDU will represent you at mediation.

If you have any questions talk to your delegate or call the NDU on:

0800 GET NDU
(0800 438 638)

Your Rights

Your individual and collective agreement gives you rights when the company proposes changes to your hours or days of work or duties:
• You have the right to give personal reasons why you should not make proposed changes. The company must seriously consider these reasons. If you have private and sensitive information you do not want to give to your manager or anybody else, contact the union for advice.
• No worker can be forced to move from day hours to night fill or the reverse.
• If your duties are still being performed at the same time in the new roster, another staff member can not replace you in those duties.
• You have the right to be represented at all meetings and to refuse to enter into discussions without representation.
• Your manager must follow the process outlined in this leaflet. Do not agree to any “corridor conversations” about changes. If you feel you are being pressured please contact the union.
• Your hours can’t be reduced without your agreement
• You can’t be forced to work two weekend days without your agreement
• You don’t have to agree to changes just because the company’s ideal roster says so

Background

The National Distribution Union (NDU) is New Zealand’s only retail industry union.

In the past eight months 1,800 workers at The Warehouse have joined the NDU.

Because we have organisers across New Zealand, two lawyers and support staff we can provide real support to you when changes like Invigorate come.

We have represent union members facing changes to their hours, days and duties from Project Invigorate and have been able to negotiate reasonable outcomes.

Contact

To join the NDU or for more information call:

0800 GET NDU
(0800 438 638)

redshirt@ndu.org.nz
warehouseworker.org.nz