A new collective agreement was ratified by members in Copthorne, Kingsgate and Millennium hotels last month.
The company gave an across-the-board pay increase of 2.5% and raised the sick leave to 7 days a year (a union claim in 2006) after the first year of employment.
Union improvements to conditions include:
•This is a nationwide collective agreement. It applies to Unite members working in hotels owned and operated by Millennium.
•Security of Hours – existing staff are to be offered extra work before taking on new staff.     
•Shift Length – the minimum shift length is to be four hours unless a person wants fewer hours.
•Paid Breaks – to be 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes.
•Union Rights – to include  union noticeboards at hotels, regular site meetings in paid work time, and union induction material to new staff.
•Laundry Allowance – to increase to $1.26 per day worked.
•Shoe Allowance – to be introduced. Will be paid 60 cents per day worked. This allowance will be back-paid to 1 July 2007.
•Union Accommodation Benefit -  A $5,000.00 accommodation benefit to be credited to Unite to be used for union purposes.
•Self-checker rate – higher rates to be paid to self-checkers.
•Increased sick leave – workers will now get 7 days.