United Voice News
Members win Tip Top agreement
Booming union membership at Victoria’s Tip Top bakeries helped members win their strongest union agreement in years.
“The big change for us is that most people at Tip Top are members now. We haven’t been strong like this for a long time,” delegate Michael Daley said.
“We had more delegates representing us than we’ve had in the past so there was a bigger commitment to ensure that we achieved what we were aiming for.”
The agreement includes a strong pay rise and major improvements to annual, long service and sick leave.
“It has made life a lot easier, the extra money is great and everybody is quite happy,” said Michael.
The new agreement covers the three Victorian Tip Top sites and guarantees that members get consulted before any changes to their jobs can be made.
“That’s probably the most encouraging thing at Tip Top, even more than the money side of it. Everyone needs to be happy at work, and now workers know where they can go to get help with their issues,” said Michael.
Now members and delegates are confident of building on their success in the next round of bargaining.
“We are confident of winning stronger agreements in the future,” said delegate Ben Good.
Earlier this year 98% of New South Wales Tip Top members voted up an agreement that saw them strong annual pay rises and improvements to allowances.
Delegate Pam Reay said the “team of delegates stuck to our guns … and achieved most of what we asked for” in the agreement.
