SKYCITY Auckland agrees to new guaranteed minimum hours for staff

SKYCITY Auckland, together with the Unite Union and the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU), have struck a landmark agreement that will see all part-time staff on collective employment agreements guaranteed a higher minimum number of hours.

The agreement will see part-time and on-call staff – including the small number of employees currently on so-called ‘Zero hour’ contracts - moving to a guaranteed eight, 16, 20 or 32 hours of work each week.

Staff will have the option of electing a higher number of hours or remaining on their current minimum hours, depending on their individual needs and circumstances. The ‘zero hour’ contract classification will be abolished.

The new policy will come in to effect on 1 January 2016.

The agreement follows constructive collective bargaining conversations with the two unions.

SKYCITY General Manager of Corporate Services, Grainne Troute, says the company is pleased to be able to provide all staff with security on hours.

“SKYCITY prides itself on being an excellent employer and we are excited about this new agreement. While the company has always said it needs flexibility from its employees because of the nature of our business, we also recognise the importance of security of hours to our staff.

“With close to 3500 staff at our Auckland property, we are the biggest single-site employer in the city. We are committed to being an excellent employer and ensuring our staff are treated fairly and are well supported,” she says.

Under this agreement SKYCITY Auckland staff will also receive a 2.5 percent pay rise as well as a number of other added benefits including a 20 year long-service payment and introducing minimum pay rates for years of service.

Ms Troute says SKYCITY Auckland is pleased to have had a constructive relationship with the unions throughout the collective bargaining process this year.

“The communication throughout this year’s bargaining has been constructive, with the best interests of our staff always the focus of both parties. We look forward to this positive relationship continuing in future years,” she says.

ENDS

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