Industrial Action at Curtin University

11 August 2009

UPDATE: Protected Action Ballot to be Held

The CFMEU, CPSU, LHMU and NTEU have been successful in their joint application for a protected ballot order in the Perth registry, FWA.

Please click here to view a PDF of the ORDER under the
Fair Work Australia Act.

6 August 2009

Application for Protected Action Ballot

On Wednesday 5 August a joint application was filed by the CFMEU, CPSU, LHMU and NTEU for a protected ballot order in the Perth registry, FWA. The ballot is expected to close on 31 August 2009. The AMWU and the CEPU have filed separate applications, but seek to be joined at the one hearing.

This action was based on the wishes of all delegates of all non Academic staff members employed at Curtin, and has been endorsed at two previous mass meetings by members of the negotiating unions, including the AMWU and the CEPU.

It may take 5 days before there is a hearing. The NTEU - Ken McAlpine will be managing the advocacy by consent through a tele-link from Melbourne, and the local IOs will be in attendance at FWA in Perth.

There is no protected action foreshadowed for UWA or ECU because UWA's negotiations have recently resumed and ECU made an offer of 4% [2008 administratively], then 4%, 5% and 4%. The ECU details have to be confirmed about instalment dates.

Murdoch University may also be preparing for protected ballot action.

Curtin's Offer: Unacceptable

Curtin's offer as at 30 June 2009 is unacceptable. Apart from some minor structural adjustements for GO and GJ levels 3, 5, and 8, (0.46%, 1.79%, and 1.83% respectively) the general movement in the offer is 1% (April 08 paid administratively) 1% (October 08 paid administratively) 2% (April 09) 1% (Oct 09) and 2% (April 2010) with the nominal expiry date being 31 July 2010.

The joint unions want 7% per annum as from 2008. There is now disagreement on the nominal expiry date or the proposed length of the agreement. The unions initially wanted a short term: 'till 31 December 2009, like UWA, because of FWA issues. The recent unions' claim has been further projected to 7% pa to be accrued each year from 2008 up to 2012, but their position on the duration of the agreement is flexible.

Warwick Claydon
Industrial Officer
CPSU