URGENT BARGAINING UPDATE: Warehouse bargaining breaks down

From our press release:

The union's bargaining campaign will resume as a result of a breakdown in mediated talks between The Warehouse and the National Distribution Union.

NDU Warehouse organiser Simon Oosterman says the company has offered no compensation for huge workloads being undertaken by workers.

“The company says it is worried about the cost of workload compensation but what the workers are asking will cost around half the Warehouse CEO’s bonus,” he says.

“The company has left it too late to get extra staff for Christmas so workers want compensation for the stress and the way they have been treated through restructuring.

Mr Oosterman says the company finally agreed to a working party to look at key issues but that is a longer term solution.

“If workers have to continue under these conditions then they want recognition for the effort they are making,” he says.

ENDS

You can read the company's version of events here: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00138.htm (They are *very* dissapointed.)

SUMMARY OF THE COMPANIES OFFER:
* A 7 month deal expiring on 31 July 2010
* Two days discretionary sick leave becomes two days primary sick leave
* Increase sick leave accumulation by 5 days up to 25 days
* One extra additional days bereavement leave (currently discretionary)
* The additional leave would be for NDU members only (including NDU members bound by the WPU agreement.)
* Two working parties on workload and appraisals (wording not confirmed)
* Some commitments around replacing absent workers during peak trading
* No unsociable hours allowance
* No immediate compensation for increased workloads

The union has been discussing workloads with the company for almost a year. This has been the biggest issue for the team around the country. It's been clear at all of our meetings: Warehouse workers are overworked and underpaid.

Because the company left the issue of additional staff (on top of the usual annual Xmas intake) so late, we had no choice but to seek monetary compensation for increased workloads in the form of a Xmas bonus. The company says this monetary claim came out of the blue. This is clearly a strategy their public relations company is trying on the New Zealand public. They know the public supports our demand for extra staff and they want to make it about greedy workers. (As though it's ok for a $1.6 million dollar bonus for the CEO!)

The union campaign will resume

We will provide more information about what we can do over the next week very soon.

In the meantime, speak to your delegate if you are keen to leaflet outside your store, hold a protest, or even take strike action. There are lots of things we can do for members with different levels of commitment/comfort.

Now is the time to make a difference: we have a lot of power right now with Xmas coming up, but expect this to now be a long campaign.

The few actions we've had to date (an all night strike, secret work-to-rules and go slows, some short strikes and some leafletting) have had a huge difference. The company has dropped completely its claim to stuff around with your hours in this bargaining round and the company is offering NDU-only benefits.

If you have any ideas or questions, please do not hestitate to contact me(Simon Oosterman) on 021 922 551 or simon.oosterman@ndu.org.nz.

We are stronger together!