Newsletter of the Finance Sector UnionNSW/ACT BranchAuthorised by Angela Budai, Acting Local Executive Secretary

j u n e 2014

FSuBitesFSU Active:For the period 1 Jan 2014 - 31 May 2014

$1,923,460 recovered on behalf of FSU members

8,679 calls to the NSW Office

260 new cases opened on behalf of members

942 cases resolved for FSU members

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As FSUBites goes to print and lands in your inbox, NAB staff have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new Agreement that provides a much better deal thanks to FSU member action calling on the bank to fix its broken pay offer and provide a deal worthy of staff consideration.

Over 8000 employees voted on the proposed Agreement with 84% voting in favour.

The result comes after a campaign that has included thousands of conversations across NAB, 5,000 activist pledges and 7,000 signatures on a petition to the bank.

“Under the proposed agreement NAB staff will qualify for 4 per cent a year increases consist-ing of a guaranteed, secure, across the board pay increase of 2% with another 2% based on performance”, said FSU National Secretary Leon Carter.

The good thing about this proposal is that NAB staff will no longer compete with each other for performance bonuses and it puts an end to the ‘bell curve’ on performance”, he said.

Under the old system performance pay was granted to staff based on their performance placing them on a bell curve across the bank. Staff could do everything that was asked of them but a bell curve would decide how much they got paid.

“Now, under this new agreement, performance assessment will be simplified and if everybody does everything that is asked, they will get their performance increase”, said Leon.

By working together, NAB staff have achieved the following:

1. Got rid of the bell curve on performance

2. A new absolute and simplified performance assessment

3. A new classification structure next year

4. 4%p.a. for Group 1 and 2 for “3C” and above

5. A transparent pay process for Group 3 and 4 plus the right to appeal

6. Higher floor rates for Group 1,2 and 3

7. Industry leading pay equity provisions

8. HSR allowances and Domestic Violence Leave

9. A genuine say during change and redundancies

10. Protected conditions around part time work, meal breaks, meal allowance, shift work, remote location.

“This is without doubt a great outcome for staff at NAB thanks largely to the efforts of FSU members who campaigned hard for a better outcome from the bank”, said Leon.

“It is time our industry shared those profits with the people who turn up every day and do the work, if our industry can’t afford to pay, no industry can”, said Leon.

If you’re not an FSU member join today at www.fsunion.org.au and support the great work our Union is doing in securing decent outcomes for our industry.

FSU member action leads to a great deal at NAB

It’s been over a month since the Federal Budget was announced and instead of people getting used the idea of the budget cuts people are just getting angrier as the depth of the cuts and the unfairness become more apparent.

I, alongside FSU Branch President (and incoming National President) Louise Arnfield, and FSU reps from ANZ and AustralianSuper attended a UnionsNSW combined Delegates meeting last week in the Masonic Centre in Sydney. We heard from academics who busted the budged crisis myth perpetuated by the Abbott Government and shared international comparisons that demonstrate Australia’s strong economic position. The attempt by Government members and ministers to “sell” the budget isn’t working. Former Liberal Party leaders including John Howard and John Hewson have commented that the Australian people won’t be sold something that is fundamentally unfair. Their attempts to sell the budget were succinctly summed up by Dee Madigan on QandA on

Monday night 18th June "......you can't wrap everything with glitter and this budget is shit".

UnionsNSW passed a motion, seconded by Louise Arnfield to build on community opposition to this budget through a rally on 6 July, the day before the new senate sits for the first time. FSU should be well represented at the rally and I’d like to invite you, your colleagues, family and friends to join me on Sunday 6 July at Sydney Town Hall at 1pm. Whether you’re concerned for the impact on you and yours, or for what this means for the future of the Australian “Fair Go” please join us on 6 July.

Meet at the FSU office at 12.45pm to collect FSU flags and a complimentary FSU “Our Jobs, Our Future” shirt (for those of you who don’t have one). See you there!

FSU Contact Details

NSW/ACT Executive

Ph. 1300 366 378

Fax.

(02) 9320 0099

Email:nswact@fsunion.org.au

Web:

www.fsunion.org.au

The NSW/ACT Executive is made up of finance industry workers and is the governing body of FSU in NSW & the ACT.

GeneralMember CouncilStephen Holloway(from 1/8/14)

Commonwealth Bank Member Council, NSW/ACT PresidentLouise ArnfieldCBA West Gosford Ph. 9120 3121

WestpacMember CouncilMarcia ByrnesWestpac KogarahPh. 8566 1377

NAB Member CouncilDale MillsNAB Lake HavenPh. 4394 8700

St George/Bank SAMember CouncilSusanne PearceSt. George Baulkham HillsPh. 9686 3511

Reserve BankMember CouncilBrendan FilipovskiReserve BankPh. 9551 8758

ANZ Member Council Mark BarrattOasis WollongongPh. 4224 1195

Acting Local Executive SecretaryAngela BudaiPh. 1300 366 378

InsuranceMember Counciljulie engelQBE SydneyPh. 8275 9537

Secretary’s ReportAngela Budai, Acting Secretary,

NSW/ACT Branch

JOINFSU

TELL YOURWORKMATES!

9FAST 9CONVENIENT 9SECURE

www.fsunion.org.au/membershipapplication.aspx

FSU Member Rights Centre:

1300 366 378 Authorised by Leon Carter, FSU National Secretary, February 2013

ONLINE

JOINFSU

TELL YOURWORKMATES!

9FAST 9CONVENIENT 9SECURE

www.fsunion.org.au/membershipapplication.aspx

FSU Member Rights Centre:

1300 366 378 Authorised by Leon Carter, FSU National Secretary, February 2013

ONLINE

JOINFSU

TELL YOURWORKMATES!

9FAST 9CONVENIENT 9SECURE

www.fsunion.org.au/membershipapplication.aspx

FSU Member Rights Centre:

1300 366 378 Authorised by Leon Carter, FSU National Secretary, February 2013

ONLINE

FSUBites

Fair Work Commission delivers pay increase!

On Wednesday 4 June, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced an increase to the minimum wage of 3% ($18.70 per week) effective July 1, 2014. This increase will be passed on to those covered by Modern Awards.

What does this mean for me? If you are on Award rates of pay as of July 1, 2014 your pay MUST be increased to bring it in line with the new minimum Award rate.

However, those on Enterprise Agreements and/or individual contracts are not affected by this increase unless their current pay is less than the new minimum award rate or their agreement specifically provides for wage movement inclusive of minimum wage decisions.

Compare your salary to the rates below to see if you’ll be entitled to an increase.

New Award rates from 1 July 2014*

Award Level New Award rate (hourly) $

New Award Rate (weekly) $

New Award Rate (yearly) $

Level 1 17.93 681.40 35,435

Level 2 19.64 746.20 38,804

Level 3 20.74 788.20 40,984

Level 4 21.79 827.60 43,035

Level 5 22.67 861.30 44,786

Level 6 25.39 964.70 50,164

*Based on a standard 38 hour week

If you notice that your wage falls below the rates above after you first full pay period in July 2014 contact the FSU on 1300 366 378 or email nswact@fsunion.org.au

Violence against women is a serious issue. An estimated 1.2 million women in Australia over the age of 15 have experienced domestic or family violence at some time during their lifetime, usually at the hands of a male partner. Two out of three Australian women who report violence are in paid employment so it is definitely a workplace issue, even if the violence is not taking place at work.

White Ribbon Australia is a non-profit organisa-tion, which seeks to change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to and perpetuate men’s violence against women, by engaging boys and men to be the faces and leaders of the campaign.

Over a number of years, FSU has been a strong and vocal supporter of White Ribbon and has now turned that work into tangible benefits for FSU members.

Most recently, NAB staff voted on a new agreement that saw the inclusion of a domestic violence clause that provides leave for staff needing to deal with a domestic violence situation. As well, Encompass Credit Union, SGE Credit Union and Southern Cross Credit Union FSU members have secured access

to paid leave if experiencing domestic and family violence (from 2-10 paid days depending on the Credit Union).

FSU National Secretary Leon Carter, along with all male FSU elected officials, is a White Ribbon Ambassador and says it’s very important workers have access to leave and support…

“It is very important that workers know they can confidentially access leave and support when they need to so having these provisions written into le-gally enforceable agreements is crucial”, said Leon.

“I’m very proud of my association with the White Ribbon Foundation and honoured to be an ambas-sador”, he said.

“I urge you to visit White Ribbon’s website at www.whiteribbon.org.au and look out for future events where you can lend your support to a fantastic organisation,” said Leon.

FSU support for White Ribbon sees real benefits for FSU members

FSU opposes proposed changes to Federal Workers Compensation laws

The Federal government is attempting to make changes to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Com-pensation Act. This legislation currently applies to members working at CBA and NAB.

The changes would make it easier for other employers to join Comcare (the federal workers compensation scheme) and leave the better regulated state and territory work health and safety jurisdictions.

The Bill seeks to expand the exclusions for workers’ compensation and in particular to remove workers’ compensation for injuries sustained by employees who are on a break (such as a lunch break) unless they are on the employer’s premises. It also seeks to remove workers compensation for workers who die or suffer serious and permanent impairment, if it is thought that the injury is due to serious and wilful misconduct – it is very hard to defend yourself against these charges if you have suffered a serious and permanent impairment or have died.

The Federal Government has attempted to ram these changes through the Parliament at short notice and with very little consultation. FSU’s submission to the inquiry recommends that the Bill be heavily revised or, scrapped.

FSU believes this is just the tip of the iceberg in what could amount to a substantial attack on workers compensation rights for all workers, including those in finance.

FSU National Co-ordinator Veronica Black – “we are very concerned about where all of this is leading and believe it will be just the start of a wider attack on workers compensation rights for workers everywhere,” she said.

“FSU as well as other Unions will be keeping a close eye on proceedings in the senate and watching for any further attacks on Workers Compensation,” said Veronica.

You can read FSU’s submission to the inquiry here: http://www.fsunion.org.au/News-Views/FSU-Submission-to-the-Senate.aspx

For more information on this or your rights around workers compensation contact the FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378.

FSU National Co-ordinator Veronica Black

FSU National Secretary and White Ribbon Ambassador Leon Carter

The Goss!

That’s sick!Staff at a large centralised site who have had 10 days sick leave over 12 months are being told to either take annual leave (so it looks better on the books) or take over the counter medications that suppress their symptoms, come to work and then be sick in their own time. But there’s more… Part time staff are being offered extra hours on days they don’t normally work to make up the time they’ve had away sick, so that doesn’t show as “sick leave” either. Sick leave is for when you’re too sick to come to work. Coming to work when you’re sick is bad for your health and those around you. More information on your rights and entitlements around sick leave are available by calling 1300 366 378.

DIY will kit advertisements can over simplify these important documents and an invalid will can be the result. Will kits may appear to be an attractive, low-cost solution but you need to carefully consider unintended legal consequences of badly worded or invalid wills. They could mean your assets may be distributed to people you do not want to benefit and it can be a costly process to make an invalid will valid. The language used in wills must be precise and leave no doubt about the deceased’s intentions. Vague or conflicting language can be open to legal challenge or mean the will can be set aside (annulled).

You need a legal professional who can advise you and make sure you make a legal and binding will. It will be one of the most important documents you will need to make and Turner Freeman has experienced experts to help you.

Second marriages and blended families make it especially important to have a will that accurately reflects your intentions. Do-it-yourself wills may not be valid. For example, some people wrongly assume that they can leave ‘their half ’ of jointly held property to particular beneficiaries. It is important to firstly establish how joint assets are held (joint tenants or tenants in common) and whether the will is actually

binding on the disposition of these assets.

There are requirements about the form and manner of the execution of wills. Without the advice of a lawyer, it is too easy to make a will that does not comply with the formal requirements. Although the Court can sometimes dispense with the requirements for the execution, alteration or revocation of wills in certain circumstances, it can be an expensive and distressing process.

Another difficulty can be unintended tax consequences that leave beneficiaries with a tax burden when a will is poorly drafted.

Seeking the assistance of a lawyer from Turner Freeman guarantees peace of mind.

Experience in this specialised area is essential. The laws surrounding wills and estate administration vary between states and territories and selecting a lawyer relevant to your location is important. Turner Freeman is a national law firm with wills and estate specialists in most states.

Do It Yourself Will Kits – Why you should reconsider using one

By Brian Barlow, Turner Freeman Lawyers

Meet at the FSU office at 12.45pm to collect FSU flags and a complimentary FSU “Our Jobs, Our

Future” shirt (for those of you who don’t have one). See you there!

www.unionsnsw.org.au/bustthebudgetrally