The unions have been involved in intensive negotiations with senior management this week. Management have made an initial salary offer as follows:

• Administrative increase June 2009 4.5%

• Salary increase June 2010 3.0%

• Salary increase June 2011 3.0 %

• Salary increase June 2012 3.0%

with 1.5M$ per annum (a fraction of a percent) set aside for staff benefits such as leave. They propose that the Agreement should run for 3 years from the date of signing - perhaps late this year.

The unions suggested that this offer is modest compared with the agreed Sydney offer of 18.3% compounded for just three years ending in May 2012.

At this stage, we are waiting for responses to a large number of detailed draft clauses from senior management. Intensive meetings between Human Resources and the Industrial Officers are scheduled for next week to consider these drafts.

In due course, we will present to members, comparisons of actual salary offers at various Go8 universities with the management's proposals at this university.