Finsec members at Southern Cross have achieved a strong result in their employment negotiations. Last month members unanimously voted to accept an offer from their employers, which included a 4.5% pay increase, a written commitment not to pass on the benefits of collective negotiations automatically to non-members, and a commitment to staff training.

Other improvements to the one year agreement included a 7.14% increase to the minimum rate after two years service, from $14 an hour to $15 an hour, agreement to set up a review process to make recommendations on the pay system, and a commitment from Southern Cross to give consideration to extra compensation for employees taking on additional responsibilities for two weeks or more.

Finsec member and negotiator, Rosalie Smith, “hoped, but was surprised and very pleased” with the end result of this year’s negotiations. Smith is proud of the members’ achievements and pleased that her employer will not be undermining bargaining by passing on the achievements to those who did not participate.

“We were very strong that it not be passed on. Members worked hard for this result and if Southern Cross passed on the benefits it would undermine the hard work that members have done.”

Finsec members at Southern Cross have achieved a series of positive results in the last three years of negotiations. That pattern is a result of organising and working as a team.

Southern Cross members are now focusing their next round of activity on upcoming discussions on their pay system review. Smith says, “We have made quite good strides in the last few years because we have full support from the team and everybody is well prepared for the process.”

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