VWAA

Harvest has been and gone.

Bram Holland — Tue, 01 May 2012 07:57:55 +0000

Harvest as you are all probably aware has almost finished. Shame that so much of it now is done by mechanical harvestors. The quality of grape selection is non existant, but then managers get their bonuses due to labour cuts and shorter harvest. but my god the crap that goes into those bins.

Harvest is here.

Bram Holland — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:51:08 +0000

Come on all you folks out there looking for work, jump on the site and get motivated, there are numerous Vineyards all over Australia currently looking for workers of all varieties, from harvesting, winery and cellar door.

Lets help make it a great season.

Bram (Pres.)

Skilling The Food Bowl Forum

Bram Holland — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:45:56 +0000

The above Forum will be held on the 24/02/2012 for further information and registration (compulsary) go to

www.richardcolbeck.com.au

well worth a look as i think it will achieve some new direction

Bram (pres.)

Welcome back everyone.

Bram Holland — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:33:21 +0000

Welcome back from your break everyone, we hope that you had a happy and safe time. We look forward to an exciting and fruitfull (sorry) year ahead for all members and everyone else involved in viticulture.

Regards and the best for 2012

Bram (President/Chief Executive)

Breakfast and Bubbles Entally House Tas.

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:31:28 +0000

Entally House are holding a Breakfast and Bubbly morning on the 4th Dec. $20pp. all inclusive as well as music, starts at 7.30am with full breakfast, all profits go to charity.

Work Place Safety New Legislation Breakfast

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:46:05 +0000

WorkCover Tasmania is holding a Breakfast on Friday 2nd December 2011 to discuss changes to the Legislation for 2011. It should be very informative and I will post any relevent information within a couple of days after the Breakfast.
Bram (President)

Good Facebook site.

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:15:32 +0000

Came across this facebook site recently well worth a look “Vinodiversity” it mainly covers a broad range of non mainstream wines.

Vineyards gearing up for vintage 2012

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:35:43 +0000

Vineyards all over Australia are starting to gear up for vintage, there is starting to be an influx of new positions becoming available, it is good that they are not leaving it until the last moment. It will give many good workers the opportunity of planning for who and where they want to work. We have been placing new positions for various proactive vineyards for positions from management to casuals.

Grown Men In Pink Gloves

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:34:16 +0000

FORMER casual vineyard worker Philip Ridyard is seeking contributions for a book and potential film screenplay he is writing about events during picking and pruning.

The work, to be called ‘Grown Men in Pink Gloves’, is derived from his observations while working in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley in 2005 and features a local and international cast of full-time and casual colleagues.

“Just watching people turning up on the first morning of picking convinced me there were innumerable characters involved in the viticulture industry and from all over the world,” Philip said.

“There were the old stagers – male and female – who had been doing the job for years and had a superior attitude when faced with novices; retired people, unemployed, nationalities who kept to themselves, and of course, backpackers.

“It was a myriad of personalities and the events during picking and pruning were full of fun and agony.”

Philip said he had a wealth of material but was looking for additional contributions from others.

“This is a fun book and the film a comedy. I need plenty more stories and experiences, funny and sad,” he said.

Contributions, which will be acknowledged in the book, can be sent to Philip at philip@straitbrands.com

Award Breaches

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:32:20 +0000

Vineyards are blatantly disregarding the national Wine Industry Award 2010, especially the section dealing with working in wet weather.

Section 23.6 (Disability Allowance Wet Work Award) clearly states the following:

“An employee who on any day works in a wet place must be paid 22.6% of the standard hourly rate of pay on top, unless provided with adequate protective clothing.”

A wet place is a location where an employee’s clothing becomes wet or where the worker has to stand in water or slush so that their feet become wet (Definitions of the Award (3.1)).

Vineyard Workers Association of Australia president Bram Holland said employees were being forced to work in inclement conditions without adequate clothing because some vineyard supervisors and managers were trying to extract four hours work even when, without wet weather protection, work should halt.

“If a casual employee is required to attend work they must now be paid for a minimum of four hours’ work,” he said.

“The names of several vineyards that have breached the Award by making the employees work the full four hours in wet conditions without adequate clothing protection and then not paying the appropriate penalty have been passed onto the Association.

“The VWAA has contacted those vineyards and it is hoped they will rectify the situation and respect the rights of their employees. This is a blatant breach of the award.”