Vic: Unionists set to vote for Yallourn deal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2000
Vic: Unionists set to vote for Yallourn deal

Victorians seem to have won a reprieve from summer power cuts with unionists signalling
their intention to end a marathon pay dispute with Yallourn Energy.

But members of the militant Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, who triggered
last month's blackouts across the state, may still flick the switch.

The CFMEU's Latrobe Valley secretary LUKE VAN DER MEULEN says workers have called on
the wider union leadership to continue to fight for a better enterprise agreement.

Mr VAN DER MEULEN says union chiefs were forced to admit the agreement was a shocker.

But another CFMEU official, ROD HART, says the union leadership recommended at a meeting
this morning that members accept the deal.

Mr HART says the deal is undoubtedly be better than anything that would be achieved
through arbitration.

Meanwhile, the Australian Services Union has advised its members to accept the deal
which will give workers a 12.5 per cent pay rise over three years, and a possible 10 per
cent increase for productivity gains.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has ordered Yallourn Energy workers
to vote on a new enterprise agreement via secret ballot from today until December 19.

AAP RTV hmg/clr/wz/jn

KEYWORD: YALLOURN (MELBOURNE)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.