Union members at the Thales Benalla and Mulwalla sites in Victoria will stop work for four hours today, Tuesday 30th March 2010.
Over 400 union members will take part in the industrial action.
The members met with Thales management on Wednesday 24th March to try and reach a suitable agreement but their concerns were not met.
They voted to take industrial action and stopped work for 24 hours beginning Thursday 25th March.
On Friday 26th March the workers conducted a ban on overtime and call backs.
The members are hopeful that the latest action will provide an agreement that enhances their employment security and recognises the major contribution they make to Thales operations at Benalla and Mulwala.
Negotiations over the agreement have gone on for more than six months.
The members have concerns over the following matters:
- The company wants to make it more difficult for employees who are off work with long term illness or injury to gain access to paid sick leave entitlements.
- Establishing a procedure to deal with redundancy situations that ensures priority is given to accepting employees who volunteer for redundancy.
- A union claim that contractors or labour hire personnel undertaking work normally carried out by Thales employees have to receive employment conditions that are no less favorable than the employment conditions that apply to Thales employees. This is an important provision for the employment security of Thales employees.
- A union claim to increase afternoon and night shift penalty rates. With significant capital investments at the Mulwala site, there will be increased shift work on the site. This will improve productivity on the site but will cause significant disturbance to family life. The claim to increase shift penalties is more than justified.
- Wage increases to be paid.