News Flash

INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

As has been previously reported, the new Fair Work Act has clearly defined processes for the taking of action when negotiations are not meeting expectations.  The first step in this process is to apply for the option to have a ballot to take protected industrial action should an impasse be reached.

Seven months after the expiry date of the current Collective Agreement 2006, management tabled its proposed bargaining framework and salary offer.

The Framework is an attempt to limit the scope of bargaining and retain and extend the high degree of management prerogative provided under the Collective Agreement 2006.  The provisions that protected staff were removed from our Agreements under the Howard Government's Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs).  The only reason that these provisions were agreed to in the 2006 Agreement was to enable the universities to receive their share of the $500 million in additional grants that the Howard Government made conditional on the HEWRRs being met.  With the HEWRRs being abolished 12 months ago, there is no reason or justification for any university not to reinstate the pre-HEWRRs standards in new and improved Collective Agreements.

There are important issues that the unions are reluctant to compromise and are working hard to have clauses in the new agreement that would give staff conditions such as  workload regulation, Job security in restructuring, clear and transparent professional staff classification issues, Union rights and resources, casualisation of staffing, indigenous employment, etc.

Professional staff have different issues in regard to taking industrial action with less flexibility in working hours.  It is important that CPSU members inform CPSU of your wishes in regard to the taking of industrial action.  

Could you please indicate to CPSU as a matter or urgency on the following matters:-

1.  Salary Offer - The current offer is 12.5% over 4 years.  Do you feel CPSU should negotiate for an improved salary offer.

(   ) Strongly support  (  ) Support  (   ) Not support   (   ) Strongly oppose

2.  If CPSU put in for a ballot would you vote to take protected industrial action should the negotiations reach an impasse.   Yes/No

Please contact CPSU Industrial Officer, Margaret Warner on (08) 82053209 or mw@cpsu.asn.au for clarification on any issues. 

14 August 2009