Enterprise Bargaining
Agreement for Fairfax printing plants in Victoria approved by Union
members
MELBOURNE, July 19, 2002 - John Fairfax Holdings Limited [ASX:FXJ] announced today that a new 3-year enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) between the company and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Communication, Electrical, Electronics, Postal Information, Plumbers and Allied Services Union (CEPU) covering the new printing plant at Tullamarine, and the existing printing plant at Spencer Street, had been approved by the union membership.
The agreement will come into effect following certification by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Mr Fred Hilmer, CEO of Fairfax, said:
"This is a successful outcome, and we can now move to bring Tullamarine into full production early next year. I congratulate the unions and our staff for reaching this milestone with us. We have achieved a labour agreement that will promote productivity, efficiency, and flexibility in our staffing levels and operations. At the same time, we have created exciting new employment prospects for our staff.
"The new plant, and the existing printing capacity at Spencer Street, will give The Age and all our publications in Victoria a leading edge in colour capacity and quality, helping to drive revenue growth.
"The company is grateful to Mr Peter Graham, Director, Group Operations, and his team for successfully concluding this innovative agreement."
Mr Tony Inglis has served as project manager during the construction, installation and commissioning of Tullamarine, and has achieved an outstanding record in bringing the plant from concept to reality. Mr Stuart Shirvington and Mr Chris Monaghan led the company's efforts throughout the negotiations and successful conclusion of the EBAs.
Under the terms of the EBAs, staffing levels will be reduced from the current 270 printing employees to approximately 150 at Tullamarine. In addition, Spencer Street will remain open, with a staff of approximately 80, to accommodate the printing of Fairfax's regional and community newspapers in Victoria, which are currently printed externally. Both agreements provide for base rate increases of 3% per year over the next three years.
The Tullamarine building is complete. All the equipment has been installed and is in the process of being commissioned. Staff training and print trials will commence in the near future, followed by the printing of significant volumes of commercial product this calendar year. Full production of The Age and other publications will be underway in late January to early February 2003. Mr Graham reiterated that the Tullamarine plant will be completed within its originally-projected $220 million budget, and that the transition costs are within the range previously communicated to the market. The Age's editorial and commercial operations will remain at 250 Spencer Street.
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For further information, please contact
Bruce Wolpe, Corporate Affairs, Fairfax (02) 9282 3640
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