<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> QR National employees have accepted new workplace agreements that guarantee their jobs for three years ahead of the rail company’s IPO later this year. </span> <p>Chief executive Lance Hockridge said the 13 new enterprise agreements provide security and certainty for employees on the terms and conditions of their employment leading up to the float of the company and beyond.</p><p>“These agreements also provide certainty for potential investors in QR National by cementing the industrial framework within which the company will operate for the next three years,” Hockridge said.</p><p>The offers have been agreed by QR National, unions and bargaining agents and explained to staff in information sessions in recent weeks.</p><p>The 13 agreements covering QR National staff in Queensland will now be provided to Fair Work Australia for approval. The agreements become effective seven days after approval by Fair Work Australia and will run through to 31 December, 2013.</p><p>The QR National subsidiaries across Australia have their own agreements.</p><p>The key elements include: a one off payment of $4000, in lieu of the previous offer of $4000 of shares at a discounted rate and an extension of the employment guarantee from two years to more than three years with all enterprise agreements to be in effect until 31 December, 2013 an on average wage increase of 4% per annum over the next three years and 14 weeks paid maternity leave, in addition to any entitlements under the new 18 weeks government paid parental leave scheme which starts 1 January, 2011.</p><p>Although not a part of the enterprise agreements, eligible employees will also receive $1000 worth of shares in QR National as previously announced by the Queensland Government.<br /> </p>
