We have reached agreement with the ARCBS in relation to the renewal of the certified agreement, largely in the same terms as the public sector agreement. A Heads of Agreement has been drafted and agreed to by the parties.

Now the ARCBS seems to be refusing to honour existing terms and conditions of the 2004-2007 EBA. We say ‘seems’ because they have offered us some weasel words, which, like the words of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, mean what they want it to mean.

The words ‘commitment’ to matters contained in industrial instruments do not actually mean that the ARCBS is committed to matters such as union members rights, rights to paid union meetings, rights to consultation over organisational change and rights to trade union training. We will be convening meetings of members at the ARCBS to discuss this latest development.

We also have a dispute with the ARCBS listed in the AIRC next week over failure to consult over organisational change – a breach of the 2004-2007 Agreement.