Transport & Travel

Travelex – It only gets worse

Thomas Cook & Travelex Bulletin No. 7

A further meeting was held with Travelex on Thursday 13 June 2002 and Travelex tabled most of the rest of their Enterprise Bargaining Agreement wish list, this included:

• Changes to higher duty allowances restricting their use
• Reduction on the payment of overtime
• Introduction of the ability to use individual contracts known (Australian Workplace Agreements or AWA's in circumstances where the Company want. This means that the Company can dictate terms and conditions to the individual bypassing the EBA.)
• The removal of the Tropical Allowance (people in Cairns and Darwin are paid an allowance of $475.20 to cover additional costs of living in a hot climate)
• There is a slight increase to redundancy payment but well short of the Thomas Cook policy on redundancy which is 4 weeks first year and 2 weeks for each subsequent complete year.
• The Disciplinary Procedure limits the right of union delegates to represent staff at all levels of disputes.
• The inclusion of a security and confidentiality clause so the Company can take individuals to the Industrial Relations Commission instead of Civil Court if there is any breach (much cheaper for them).

The money’s on the table

Travelex have also indicated that they propose:

• Year 1 - 3% base pay increase
• Year 2 - 2% base pay increase plus 1% based on performance / merit criteria assessed individually There is no doubt this offer is at the very low end of the increases paid in Australia today.

In May 2002 in determining that $18 should be added to all Federal Award base rates the Australian Industrial Relations Commission said as follows:

"In the last year earnings in Australia generally have grown at or above 5% while wages have risen at or above 3.5% and wage increases through agreements have risen at close to 4%."

This $18 increase was put in the Awards without any trade off of conditions.

There is no doubt that Travelex is funding the pay increases from:

• Change in core hours - Monday to Saturday to 7.00am to 7.00pm (and one night extended to 9.00pm)
• Increases shift hours to 12 hours - without loadings
• MLM Process a core role of FX Consultants (when a marketing consultant would get $100,000 per year)

ASU Claims

We have tabled the claims made on behalf of members, we have also provided a comprehensive response to Travelex.

The CAT Members who were elected by staff are considering their position. You need to tell them what you think that the pay rise is too low and Travelex is asking for too much.

What’s Next

The next meetings are on 19 & 21 June 2002. We believe that Travelex will not be inclined to change their position and will want to put the Agreement out to vote.

You need to be ready for this - keep in contact with your local ASU organisers and delegate - we will be holding meetings to discuss the proposals.