LIEU DAYS ARE YOURS WITH 14-DAYS NOTICE -NO IFS, NO BUTS!
For many years SkyCity have been preventing people using their legal right to use their lieu days with two weeks notice.
The company has been illegaly imposing blackout periods when all leave applications are refused.
Following submissions from SEA-Unite last year the company have accepted that their previous policy was wrong in law and needed to be corrected.
Memos have been sent from HR to your managers explaining the new policy (and the law) to line managers. However it seems some of them are slow learners.
HR have sent a reminder to managers this year that Òwe sent very clear and explicit advice to managers prior to Christmas re our obligations to grant Lieu days as long as the 14 day notice period had been observed.Ó
One problem however is that applications through the kiosk may initially be declined. HR explains in their email to managers that this is Òan opportunity for Managers to discuss the impact of leave on this day with the employee but if the employee does not wish to change their plans having taken our view in to account then we must grant the day.Ó
IN PLAIN ENGLISH AS LONG AS YOU GIVE 14-DAYS NOTICE A LIEU DAY CANNOT BE REFUSED.

CEI
A few of our members were overlooked and/or underpaid with regards to CEI payments. SEA-Unite exec members have been able to fix these as soon as they reached our desk. One person missed because he changed from waged to salary in the year and was still owed a portion of the payment. If you think a mistake has been made with your CEI payment please contact us.

BUILDING THE UNION FOR O8 NEGOTIATIONS
We are renegotiating the Collective Agreement which expires at the end of June this year. We expect to be in negotiations well before then. SEA-Unite have already begun to draw up claims. This year there is agreement for members of both unions to negotiate together. We will have joint stopwork meetings in March and elect a negotiating team.
During February it is time to bring as many non-union staff aboard to be ready to join the fight for a decent pay rise and improved conditions. We'll be coming to your department sometime soon. Keep an eye out for our organising team on site.

CONSULTATION MEETINGS
David Christian (GM Auckland) and Michelle Hamilton (HR) will be leading the SkyCity team for bimonthly consultation meetings with the SEA-Unite team. We will post the dates on the board. Our goal is to get as many problems resolved outside of CEA negotiations if we can. If you want bring an issue up at these meetings write it down and put it into the SEA-Unite dropbox outside Wardrobe. An exec member will get back to you with a response

UNITE ORGANISERS WORKING FROM WESTERN SPRINGS
Level 12, 300 Queen St remains a Unite Office for use as our education centre. With more students we need more class space that is as accessible as possible. So the union organising staff will be using offices at 6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside. The main Unite number 09 8452132 remains. Calls will be answered Mon-Friday 9am-9pm. The Credit Union Office remains on Level 12.

HOUSEKEEPING
Backpay claims for missing breaks and unpaid extra hours worked for Hotel Housekeeping staff are being pursued with the company. There is a recognition that something needs to be done and we are hopeful it will resolved soon.

YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ASKED TO WORK EXTRA SHIFTS AND OVERTIME
It seems that the Gaming Machines Department brought in too many staff for Auckland Anniversary Weekend. They realised their mistake and notified workers with only a days notice that they were no longer required.
If you are booked for a shift this cannot be cancelled without mutual agreement. If the company acts unilaterally like this you should turn up for work and if you are sent home you will be paid.

SECURITY
SEA have written to the company to make sure that Security staff receive the pay rise due as soon as they have passed their NZQA and 12 months service. This was in the terms of settlement of the CEA.

FAREWELL SAM ATIA
Gaming Machines Technician Sam Atia has resigned from his position at SkyCity. There were a few problems that went to mediation but these have all been resolved with a positive outcome for Sam. We wish Sam all the best for the future.

CREDIT UNION
Siu Armstrong is still visiting 24/7 on Thursday from 9am-11am and 2pm-5pm. Feel free to have a chat about the banking services available. The Credit Union office remains at Level 12, Unite House, 300 Queen St. Ph 909 1396.

PACIFIC STRIKE ACTION
In New Caledonia, striking transport workers have clashed with police attempting to stop an occupation of the Carsud bus company headquarters. The workers, employed in the company's bus transport system in Noumea and surrounding areas, went on strike over the dismissal of a colleague for alleged misconduct.
Around 200 police sent to end the occupation attacked workers with tear gas grenades, rubber bullets and batons. Some strikers were beaten up in police vans. Workers responded by throwing stones. They also overturned and burned two police vans as well as the company director's car.
Clashes continued all night with dozens of workers reporting minor injuries. Up to 63 arrests were made with at least 12 strikers held on charges of assault and criminal damage. The workers are members of the bluntly-named "Kanak and Exploited Workers Union".
In the Solomon Islands the National Union of Workers has issued a 28-day notice of strike to the management of Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited. A union spokesman said that if the company fails to respond there would be strike action. The dispute is centred on the company's continuous refusal to discuss working conditions, wages, allowances and incentives.