These agreements will help pave the way for increasing rates and conditions across the service sector, helping bridge the gap between service and construction rates.
ETU NSW/ACT Organiser Jacob says that electrical workers in the service industry have high levels of responsibility and a unique skillset.
“Service industry sparkies are often expected to manage their jobs including scheduling, organisation, liaising with clients and reporting. They are essentially walking into a different workplace every day, assessing the risks, requirements and responsibilities with each new location, and their pay rates should reflect that added responsibility,” said Jacob.
The Star Service agreement included a 20% pay increase over three years, with 10% of that increase front-loaded in the first year, all tolls paid for by the company, which saves some members up to $7K per year, a substantial increase to all allowances and good delegate and Health and Safety Representative clauses.
At ARA, members won an 18% pay increase over three years, changes to the classification structure which better recognise and reward workers’ skills, experience and training, and access to a medical exam for those who work in hazardous areas.
These landmark agreements were negotiated and won without the need for members to take industrial action, thanks in part to careful strategic planning and a strong well-researched position going into bargaining.
ETU NSW/ACT Secretary Allen Hicks, also attributes the success of these agreements to the hard work of union members who have taken industrial action across the state in recent years, making sure that employers take the ETU seriously during negotiations.
“ETU members are known to stand up for their rights, and they fight hard to win. All ETU members who have fought for their agreements in recent times have helped lay the platform for agreements like this,” he said.