On Friday 13 July, the Union met with Tabcorp representatives in regards to the proposed use of the Fair Work Commission’s New Approaches for you Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Tabcorp informed us that in the near future they would be doing a review of the contact centre operations at Tabcorp and that going to New Approaches before this review is completed would be to no advantage.

Tabcorp proposed that instead of continuing with negotiations at this stage, that they defer negotiations of the Tabcorp Granville Account Operators Sales Enterprise Agreement 2013 (‘the Agreement’) for 12 months while Tabcorp reviewed its call centre operations.

The Union proposes to agree to deferring re-negotiating the Agreement for one year, providing that:

  1. Tabcorp agrees to apply a pay increase of 9.2%. This sum reflects that fact that our members have not received a pay increase since July 2015 and will not receive any back pay. The quantum is the total of the Fair Work Commission’s national minimum wage orders in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (2.4%, 3.5% and 3.3%).
  2. Tabcorp agrees that it will not apply to terminate the Agreement for a period of one year, and after one year will only terminate the Agreement in consultation with the Australian Services Union, United Services Branch (‘USU’).
  3. Tabcorp agrees to formalise this arrangement in a legally binding memorandum of understanding.

We advised Tabcorp that we had already spoken to the FWC Deputy President Anna Booth about our willingness to proceed with New Approaches and that out of courtesy to the FWC that Tabcorp also speak with DP Booth. We understand that DP Booth has now suspended New Approaches in regards to your EBA after speaking with Tabcorp.

Members as you can see the Union is still actively involved in the your EBA discussion and that we are dealing with the twists and turns that appear.

If you disagree with points 1, 2 or 3 as outlined above, please contact Clare Raffan on craffan@usu.org.au or convey your concerns to your interim USU contacts Teresa Kiernan and Nabil Huq.

Thank you for your support and we will keep you updated on the progress.