Enterprise Bargaining Latest News

The latest news page will be regularly updated as negotiations progress. The news items below are listed in chronological date order.

11 April 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Bargaining Update

Dear Colleagues,

Since my last communication on 18 March 2013, the University has been corresponding with the NTEU regarding its members’ motion to contemplate taking protected industrial action if the University did not agree to withdraw certain aspects of its log of claims. 

I am pleased, however, to advise that this issue has now been resolved and the NTEU has confirmed that it is willing to bargain with the University in good faith on the University’s log of claims in its entirety.

Two bargaining meetings were held with both the NTEU and the CPSU on 27 March 2013 and 10 April 2013. On these occasions, the parties made significant progress regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Employment Strategy clause, although final agreement in relation to this clause has yet to be reached.  

The parties have also agreed upon clauses in both enterprise agreements that do not require any amendment and will therefore be rolled over into the next round of agreements. These clauses are as follows:

  • No extra claims
  • Availability of the agreement
  • Salary packaging
  • Supervision (Academic)
  • Car kilometre allowance and journeys requiring temporary residence
  • Compensation for loss or damage to personal property
  • Jury service and witnesses
  • Sick leave (Academic)
  • Australian Defence Force Reserves training leave
  • Emergency services call-out leave
  • Public holidays
  • Personal reports
  • Employee representation
  • Pay and career equity
  • Intellectual freedom
  • Intellectual property
  • Environmental sustainability.

The next bargaining meeting will be held on 24 April 2013, on which occasion a preliminary discussion regarding academic workloads will take place.

Regards,

Ann Tout

Executive Director Office of People and Culture

18 March 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Bargaining Update

Dear Colleagues,

As you will be aware bargaining has commenced for the negotiation of new enterprise agreements.

During February, the University shared our log of claims with staff and also ran a series of staff forums on each campus. These forums were open to all staff and also attended by members of the Executive and senior members of the Office of People and Culture.

Each log of claims is a starting point for negotiations and, throughout the process, both parties should negotiate in good faith to ultimately reach agreement, which should, by its very nature, involve flexibility and compromise from each party. The claims made by both the University and the Unions have yet to be discussed in any detail, as so far the first two bargaining meetings have been focused on establishing the framework for bargaining.

Staff have provided feedback on the University’s log of claims through both the staff forums and the enterprise bargaining website. The University acknowledges that its claims regarding proposed changes to flex leave, severance entitlements and leave approvals have caused some concern for staff. We understand this and would like to emphasise that these are currently points listed in our log of claims that we would like to explore and discuss with the unions as we move toward developing new agreements. In the spirit of good faith bargaining, the University will seek to have these discussions with the unions more fully in the weeks and months ahead with the view to reaching agreement. As you will be aware, no changes can be made arising out of any of the logs of claims without agreement.

UWS certainly remains committed to providing our staff with flexible work options but must also seek to ensure the best operational efficiencies for the University.

The NTEU recently notified the University that its members have already resolved that the NTEU should contemplate taking protected industrial action if our log of claims is not amended to withdraw a number of points, including those listed above. The University is disappointed that the NTEU would threaten protected industrial action so early in the negotiation process, and prior to even having had the opportunity to discuss and review each party’s log of claims. In particular, the University is concerned that the NTEU’s stance is not in accordance with the good faith bargaining requirements prescribed by the Fair Work Act which, amongst other things, require that the University and the unions:
  • give genuine consideration to the proposals of other bargaining representatives for the agreement, and give reasons for the bargaining representatives’ responses to those proposals; and
  • respond to proposals made by other bargaining representatives for the agreement in a timely manner.

In light of this, the University has written to the NTEU advising that:

  • in the University’s view, the NTEU is not bargaining in good faith;
  • in the circumstances, the University does not consider it appropriate to continue bargaining;
  • if the NTEU does not rescind the resolution of its members and withdraw the threat of industrial action, the University will suspend further bargaining with the NTEU until these steps are taken.
We must stress that the University is not in any way suggesting that it is not prepared to bargain in good faith with the NTEU. The University remains ready to do so provided that the NTEU and its members approach bargaining on the same basis.

In the interim, the University plans to continue the bargaining sessions with the CPSU as scheduled.

Staff can find more information on bargaining and provide feedback via the website at www.uws.edu.au/enterprisebargaining

Regards,

Ann Tout
Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

20 February 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Bargaining Update - initial meeting

Dear Colleagues,

Monday 18 February marked the commencement of Enterprise Bargaining with the initial bargaining meeting held between the NTEU, CPSU and University representatives.

The parties discussed protocols and procedural issues for future meetings, which have now been scheduled to take place on a fortnightly basis from 6 March until June 2013. Further dates will be determined if required.

At the commencement of bargaining, each party tables a log of claims illustrating their proposed inclusions for the new agreements or changes to the current agreements. This provides a starting position for negotiations as each party considers the other parties' views and possible compromises in order to ultimately reach agreement.

The University tabled its log of claims on Monday 18 February as did the CPSU, with the NTEU already having done so in November 2012. The UWS log of claims highlights the principles which will inform and lead bargaining and these were discussed during the meeting.

The log of claims lists a number of positive additions the University will look to include and a number of items the University would propose to review or clarify as we seek to deliver the best operational efficiencies and use of University resources, whilst still delivering benefits for staff. The current staff information sessions happening across the University will provide opportunities to discuss the log of claims over the next week.

The UWS log of claims which marks the University's initial bargaining position can be found in the "related documents and key dates section" of the Enterprise Bargaining website www.uws.edu.au/enterprisebargaining

We look forward to providing further updates as bargaining continues.

Regards,

Ann Tout
Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

18 February 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Agreement Information Sessions - 19-27 February

Dear Colleagues, 

This is a reminder that Enterprise Agreement Information Sessions will be held on all campuses this week and next week. All staff are invited to attend – this is a chance for you to give feedback on the existing agreements and share what you think should be the priorities for the negotiation. 

The sessions will be held on each campus at the following times and locations: 

  • Hawkesbury – Tuesday 19 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, L9.G.21 (Lecture Theatre)
  • Kingswood – Friday 22 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, V.G.05 (Lecture Theatre)
  • Campbelltown – Monday 25 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, 4.G.14 (Lecture Theatre 3)
  • Parramatta – Tuesday 26 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, EB.G.33
  • Bankstown – Wednesday 27 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, 05.LG.15
You do not need to register your attendance and you are welcome to attend a session on any campus. 

Your comments or questions can also be submitted via the online form at: www.uws.edu.au/enterprise_bargaining/staff_feedback and will be forwarded to the Enterprise Bargaining Steering Committee. 

For more information and to keep up to date with the progress of negotiations, please visit: www.uws.edu.au/enterprisebargaining.

Ann Tout
Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

11 February 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Agreement Information Sessions - February

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the enterprise bargaining process begins this month. The University is aiming to achieve enterprise agreements that provide a rewarding working environment for our staff and also place the University in a strong position for the future.

Further to the forums held in December, we will be holding another series of Information Sessions for staff this month. All staff are invited to attend – this is an opportunity for you to provide feedback on the existing enterprise agreements and tell us what you think should be the priorities for negotiation.

The sessions will be held on each campus as follows:
  • Hawkesbury – Tuesday 19 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, L9.G.21 (Lecture Theatre)
  • Kingswood – Friday 22 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, V.G.05 (Lecture Theatre)
  • Campbelltown – Monday 25 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, 30.G.213
  • Parramatta – Tuesday 26 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, EB.G.33
  • Bankstown – Wednesday 27 February, 2.00pm-3.30pm, 05.LG.15

No registration is required. If you are unable to attend the session on your campus, you are welcome to attend one on another campus.

You can also submit any comments or questions via the online form at: www.uws.edu.au/enterprise_bargaining/staff_feedback. Your feedback is valued and will be forwarded to the Enterprise Bargaining Steering Committee.

For more information and to keep updated with the progress of negotiations, please visit: www.uws.edu.au/enterprisebargaining.

Susan Hudson
Acting Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

31 January 2013 - [OPC] Notice of Employee Representational Rights and Enterprise Bargaining website

Dear Colleagues,

Further to the recent notification that the University, NTEU and CPSU have agreed to commence bargaining in February 2013, I would like to draw your attention to the Notice of Employee Representational Rights available at: http://www.uws.edu.au/eb_notice. This Notice is being issued as per the requirements of section 174(6) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and contains important information regarding your right to representation during the enterprise bargaining process.

The Enterprise Bargaining website is now also available at http://www.uws.edu.au/enterprisebargaining. This site will be updated regularly with FAQs, news and important information throughout enterprise bargaining and you can also raise questions via the feedback form.

Further bargaining information sessions for staff are currently being planned and we will provide details of times and locations shortly.

Ann Tout
Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

23 January 2013 - [OPC] Enterprise Bargaining Update

Dear Colleagues,
 
We are pleased to announce that at a meeting today between University representatives and the NTEU and CPSU representatives to discuss logistics and process around enterprise bargaining, all parties agreed to commence bargaining in February 2013.
 
As we commence enterprise bargaining, it is again important to note that Higher Education is experiencing revolutionary change and our ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in Government policy, technologies and student demands, as well as increased competition,  will determine our capacity to thrive and continue delivering on our promise to our students, our staff and our region long into the future.
 
The development of new enterprise agreements will seek to empower our staff and to deliver an enhanced working environment, while creating the capacity for staff and the community to embrace the future.
 
Throughout the negotiations, the University will regularly meet with the NTEU and CPSU to discuss any issues that may arise. A UWS steering committee will work intensively to ensure negotiations are conducted in good faith and that the necessary work between meetings with staff representative bodies is carried out in an expedient manner.
 
In order to ensure enterprise bargaining is a priority and taken forward in the timely fashion which all parties desire, the University has appointed Bruce Heddle and Darren Gardner, both of Maddocks law firm, as the University’s bargaining representatives in accordance with section 176(1)(d) of the Fair Work Act 2009.
 
A series of campus forums were held in December which provided the steering committee with some good feedback on the current agreements. We are committed to keeping staff updated throughout negotiations and will host further forums in February and will provide links to a dedicated bargaining website and other avenues for feedback prior to the commencement of negotiations.
 
Ann Tout
Executive Director, Office of People and Culture

13 November 2012 - [VC] Enterprise Agreement Negotiation

Dear Colleagues,
 
As you may be aware, the University will soon commence negotiations on new enterprise agreements with the NTEU and CPSU.
 
We want to achieve enterprise agreements which provide a rewarding working environment for our staff and also have the capacity to strengthen the University into the future.
 
Higher education is undergoing transformational change in Australia and internationally and our ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in modes of delivery, technological innovation and student demand, as well as increased competition, will determine our capacity to thrive and provide the best for our students, our staff and our region into the future.
 
Prior to the formal start of negotiations, members of the Executive would like to meet with staff to discuss the challenges and opportunities on our horizon, how the Our Future projects will address these and to provide you with the opportunity to comment on how our enterprise agreements should be structured in the weeks and months ahead.
 
We are finalising some dates and venues to host forums with staff during December and February. A follow-up email will confirm these and invite you to attend.
 
We look forward to regularly communicating with staff throughout the negotiation of the new agreements and will regularly seek your input. A website which will serve as the focal point for information for staff throughout the negotiations is currently in development.
 
Professor Janice Reid
Vice-Chancellor