New Zealand Workers Winners in Pay Equity Change
New Zealand Workers Winners in Pay Equity Change
Pay equity has arrived at Toll
Logistics, without government or legal intervention, thanks
to a new Collective Agreement ratified this week.
The
signing of a new Global Framework Agreement facilitated by
the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and
logistics giant Toll paved the way for the new Collective
Agreement with FIRST Union.
Coverage of
agreement
The new agreement sees the consolidation of
existing collective agreements with Toll Logistics and Toll
Customised Solutions to one agreement that covers the
entire North Island and addresses longstanding
issues such as pay equity and the use of contract
labour-hire.
Pay
equity
The Customised Solutions workers were
predominately women, while the higher paid Toll Logistics
workers were predominately male. Workers from Customised
Solutions, making up about two thirds of the staff affected
by the new agreement, were historically paid $2 - $3 per
hour less than workers from Toll Logistics. The
new agreement brings all workers into line with wage rates
ranging from the Living Wage (of $20.55) up to $24.50 with
the members from Customised Solutions receiving an
average increase in the first year of over 10%, or over $80
a week.
Conversions of labour
hire
The agreement also includes the conversion of
labour-hire workers to permanent direct employment after six
months engagement on the site (including reasonable
allowances for leave). In the past some workers had been
employed through third parties for several years.
FIRST Union Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing
Secretary, Jared Abbott, says the Global Framework Agreement
between Toll and ITF affiliated unions (including FIRST
Union) provided the guidance for the parties to achieve the
settlement.
“The Framework Agreement provides
commitments by the parties to address pay equity issues
(where workers are paid differently because of their
gender), the treatment of labour-hire workers and the
promotion of collective bargaining. We are so pleased that
our members and other workers will benefit from these
principles being applied in practise.”
In
April the managing director of Toll, Michael Byrne said the
company was delighted to be taking the lead on improving
standards for transport and logistics workers.
“Our
agreement with the ITF reflects Toll’s broader commitment
to creating a strong and viable logistics industry that
fosters a safe and rewarding work environment for all. With
this charter, Toll and the ITF are setting clear standards
to our approach for safety, labour relations and growth in
our industry. I am proud that Toll is leading the way and I
look forward to working cooperatively with the ITF to shape
these future standards.”
ENDS