Members will be aware that Essential Energy contacted your Union requesting to commence negotiations on a New Enterprise Agreement, some 6 months prior to its expiration.
Essential Energy recognised the past difficulties experienced by Union Members and the Union to achieve an acceptable Enterprise Agreement. Essential Energy suggested that the existing Agreement be rolled over, with very little change, but with a minimum wage increase guaranteed.
Members will have seen the documents from Essential Energy, that described the changes from the old agreement to the new agreement, and we agree these are minimal and have very little impact on our members.
The wage increases as described in the Agreement are as follows;
- On 1 July 2018 the increase will be equal to the CPI for the 6 month period ending 31 March 2018 (being the total of CPI for the December 2017 and March 2018 quarters) but in no event will the increase be less than 1% or more than 1.25%;
- On 1 July 2019 the amounts determined in accordance with paragraph (a) will be further increased by the CPI for the 12 month period ending 31 March 2019 but in no event will the increase be less than 2% or more than 2.5%; and
- On 1 July 2020 the amounts determined in accordance with paragraph (b) will be further increased by the CPI for the 12 month period ending 31 March 2020 but in no event will the increase be less than 2% or more than 2.5%.
In this provision CPI means the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of the weighted average of eight capital cities (All Groups CPI) for the relevant period.
The Union through consultation with its delegates, and their discussions with members, recommends this proposed Enterprise Agreement, and accordingly encourages our members to;
VOTE YES.
If you have any questions, please contact your union delegate or your Union. We suggest that you also refer to the documents supplied to each employee by Essential Energy on the proposed EA.
