The last pay rise under the current MFS enterprise agreement is due in the “first full pay period on or after 1 January 2025”, meaning that you should see a pay increase of 3% in this week’s pay.
As you know, it is very important that you check your pay slips carefully but also please make sure that you print out a hard copy of your payslip just in case in the future, you need to go back in time for an issue. We hope it won’t happen to you, but the day may come when you will be very glad you’ve kept your hard copy records in good shape. It certainly has helped us untangle some historic issues for members.
Meanwhile, 3% is a modest increase but hopefully it will help with your household budget as we continue the struggle in current negotiations to achieve an agreement for more significant pay increases in the next enterprise agreement.
State Councillors came together on Tuesday this week to work collectively on some of the detail we’ll be taking to the next negotiating meeting on Friday 31 January 2025. Lots more hard work ahead!
SAPs 36 and 40
We are very grateful for all the feedback we’ve received from members in relation to the review of these SAPs and we are using all feedback in the current discussions with the MFS on them.
An extraordinary meeting of our State Council was conducted on Thursday, 16 January 2025 to focus on these issues and it was acknowledged that the employer is clearly seeking efficiencies in this area and that such matters, if agreed must be taken into account in negotiating the pay increase in the EA negotiations. It’s important to remember that no agreement will be made without consultation with members. And no agreement may be certified without a majority voting in favour of a new agreement.
UNION ELECTION
State Council received and accepted a resignation from Treasurer Glenn Dean at our extraordinary meeting on 16 January 2025 and has appointed Paul Caica as Returning Officer to conduct a by-election for the position of Treasurer.
Members are requested to please advise our office at info@ufusa.com.au of any change in your contact details asap in order that our electoral roll is completely updated ready for the call of nominations for the election which will be conducted electronically in the near future.
We extend our thanks to Glenn for his service and wish him well in the future.
VENTIA EDINBURGH MEETING
Members employed by Ventia at Edinburgh are reminded of the meeting of members scheduled for 12:30 hours next Thursday 30 January 2025. Thank you to our hard working Shop Stewards for organising this catch up and I’m looking forward to seeing you all there.
UNION FEES INCREASE
As previously advised, the 2024 AGM unanimously endorsed an increase in union fees of 3% in line with our pay increase however this increase will not take effect until February 2025. The new fees are as follows: Per Fortnight
| SAMFS Full time | 46.45 |
| Engineering/BATA | 28.35 |
| Retained | 10.65 |
| Ventia | 40.20 |
YOUR VIDEO MESSAGES FOR MEMBER ADRIENNE CLARKE
As previously advised, your UFU is collecting all the kind and funny video messages you’d like to send to Adrienne to let her know we are all thinking of and supporting her. This is of course being done with Adrienne’s consent and we hope you may have some entertaining messages and recollections of our first woman firie to contribute.
Thanks to all those who have already made contributions and to those still contemplating getting creative, please keep it really positive and cheerful and there’s a small prize for the best contribution.
While the final compilation will not be a public website post, you will have access to it once it’s been presented to Adrienne and her family. The short videos can be from groups or individuals, holding the camera in a horizontal position (landscape please or resolution can be affected in the final product), shot from no less than 2 m away for good audio reproduction, and please shoot in light shade.
Members are requested to transfer all videos as MP4 files via https://wetransfer.com and upload it to info@ufusa.com.au. Looking forward to seeing all that untapped talent in our ranks.
Meanwhile thanks again to everyone who has participated in some of the really positive events recognising Adrienne as the trail blazing wonder woman she truly is! I’ve loved being able to share some of these outings so thank you all again and we are looking forward to more hijinks in 2025.
In Solidarity
