Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union organiser Jacob Batt asks govt to restore apprentices’ wages

Some Metro apprentices are more than $15,000 worse off because of a “callous” decision by the government business to cut their wages, their union says.

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state organiser Jacob Batt at the Elizabeth Street bus mall, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Some Metro apprentices are more than $15,000 worse off because of a “callous” decision by the government business to cut their wages, their union says.

Metro has confirmed it is “looking into the matter”.

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state organiser Jacob Batt has written to Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Minister Michael Ferguson asking them to intervene and have the apprentices’ wages restored.

“Metro Tasmania deliberately changed employment relationships to cut the wages of their apprentice heavy vehicle mechanics in an underhanded and cruel attack on young Tasmanians,” he said.

“Our analysis shows apprentices at Metro Tasmania are now close to $15,000 worse off across the period of their apprenticeship.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state organiser Jacob Batt at the Elizabeth Street bus mall, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Metro apprentices were employed through a third-party paid by Metro and received a percentage of the Enterprise Agreement pay rate for each respective four years.

“Metro are now directly employing apprentices and made the callous decision in a very sneaky manner to cut their wages and pay the bare minimum, the award rate.”

A Metro spokesman confirmed Metro had previously used a third party to employ apprentices and after a review decided to employ apprentices directly.

He said Metro employed at the award rate.

“Recently, Metro has been made aware of an issue regarding a few apprentices who resigned with the third party provider and signed a contract with Metro and we are looking into the matter,” he said.

“Metro is currently negotiating a new EBA.

Mr Batt said apprentices who had transitioned to Metro had been told they would not be worse off. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Metro looks forward to continuing negotiations with its engineering team and hope that it can reach an agreement that recognises its hard work but is also affordable for the business.”

However, Mr Batt said apprentices who transitioned to Metro did so “because they were told they would not be worse off”.

“Metro has not agreed to bargain with their apprentices in the Enterprise Agreement, leaving them in the lurch,” he said.

“These apprentices shouldn’t have to bargain to have their wages restored, this should be rectified immediately.

“It is hard enough for a young person to live on apprentice wages, yet alone when apprentice wages are cut to the bone in a cost of living crisis.

“If Premier Rockliff is legitimate in his reset and wants to tackle cost of living pressures, he will step in and have Metro apprentice wages restored immediately. Anything less shows his reset is only lip service and spin.”

Mr Batt said this was “the most disgraceful” conduct he had seen in 10 years as a union official.

Originally published as Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union organiser Jacob Batt asks govt to restore apprentices’ wages