News Flash

The next steps

Negotiations are now being resumed after a break for the holiday period. 

University of Adelaide resumed bargaining at an all day negotiating meeting on 19 January where some progress was made. 

University of South Australia resumed bargaining in meetings held on 14 January and 21 January. Up until this point there have been no formal minutes of any negotiating meetings that have taken place so far. This has made negotiations difficult in knowing what agreements have been made on the various clauses that have so far been debated. The next meeting scheduled is for an all day negotiating meeting on Tuesday 9 February where the outcomes will be recorded. This concession by management to finally provide any written documentation on negotiating meetings is very much welcomed by the unions involved. It is hoped that some progress will be made towards a final agreement at this meeting.

The Formal Negotiating Group at Flinders University resumes bargaining meetings on 23 February. 

It is expected that the majority of Universities will have either achieved an agreement or be very close to finalising agreements shortly. The South Australian universities are so far resisting reinstating numerous employment conditions, disallowed by the Howard Governments HEWRRs provisions. This is especially so in regard to the use and amount of casual employment for academic staff and promotion criteria for academic staff. 

General Staff Reclassification Review at Flinders University. 

The University is currently seeking to limit the right of general staff to seek a review of their classification level in a way that would effectively mean that it is no longer available to staff.  

Unions negotiating at Flinders University are united in the position that such a fundamental work place right is not to be traded off. No agreement will be reached that takes away this basic right.

Salary

Current salary offers for South Australian universities.

12.5% to 30 September 2012 - University of South Australia
14.25% to June 2012 - University of Adelaide
14.25% to June 2012 - Flinders University

Unless these offers are increased South Australian universities will become one of the lowest paying universities with a significant decline from the mid range position.

CPSU members are concerned about preserving high quality educational outcomes for students and this can only be achieved by university staff having fair and equitable pay and working conditions. CPSU calls on the three South Australian universities to follow the universities below and deliver fair and equitable new collective agreements.

University of Western Sydney General Staff Agreement. CPSU have negotiated a separate agreement for General Staff which delivers a 19.23% pay increase, an improved and more transparent classification clause with review process, general staff right to choose a one hour lunch break and a $1000 sign-on bonus, improved job security clause, and more. 

Other Agreements are as follows:-

University of Sydney

Guaranteed 17%, expires May 2012

5.1% annual wage growth
All staff agreement
Final Agreement

Edith Cowan University

Guaranteed 17%, expires 30 June 2012

4.7% annual wage growth
All staff Agreement
Final Agreement

La Trobe University

Guaranteed 16%, expires 30 June 2012

4.2% annual wage growth
All staff Agreement
Final Agreement

University of Canberra

Guaranteed 16%, expires 30 June 2012

4.3% annual wage growth
Final Agreement

Extra 4% conditional

Monash University

Guaranteed 16.5%, expires 30 June 2012

4.1%
Final Agreement

University of Ballarat

Guaranteed 21%, expires 30 June 2012

4.8% annual wage growth
Final Agreement

Swinburne University

Guaranteed 16%, Expires 30 June 2012

4.5% annual wage growth
Final Agreement

James Cook University

Guaranteed 16%, Expires 30 June 2012

4.9% annual wage growth
Heads of Agreement

RMIT University

Guaranteed 16.5%, Expires 30 June 2012

4.4% annual wage growth
Close to settlement

Central Qld University

16%, Expires 30 June 2012

4.3% annual wage growth
Close to settlement

Curtin University

Guaranteed 18%, Expires 30 June 2012

4.6% annual wage growth
Close to settlement

Univ. of Melbourne

Guaranteed 16%

4.5% annual wage growth
Close to settlement

Murdoch University, Guaranteed 15%-25% dependent on classification, 4.3%-6.3% annual wage growth close to settlement

Please contact CPSU Industrial Officer, Margaret Warner on 82053209 or mw@cpsu.asn.au for any comments or work related issues.

CPSU THE UNION NEGOTIATING ON BEHALF OF PROFESSIONAL/GENERAL STAFF IN UNIVERSITIES