CPSU Members Update 1

CPSU Members Update 1

Bargaining has begun for a General Staff Enterprise Agreement at UNSW. Initial meetings were held to discuss the process and resources of bargaining. Meetings on the content of the Agreement are now getting under way.

Meeting 1 - 15th April

Offer of facilitator - The University made a surprise offer to employ an external facilitator to expedite the Enterprise Bargaining. The CPSU and the other unions declined this offer on the grounds that all parties should have people at the table who have the big picture in mind, can give quick, informed responses, and who have the authority to make in-principle commitments.

Meeting 2 – 25th May

Resourcing for delegates to work on bargaining and attend bargaining meetings was discussed. The University is unwilling to write to managers to authorise time off to work on bargaining for delegates, leaving delegates to negotiate time off with local managers. Bargaining meetings with the University will be held for 2 hours once a fortnight.

5th June – CPSU presents YOUR Log of Claims to University.

Meeting 3 – 9th June

Log of claims - The University proposed to roll over the current Enterprise Agreement without change and then discuss the pay-claim. CPSU declined this offer as our members have asked us to seek the changes outlined in the Log of Claims.

Meeting 4 – 23rd June

University budget presentation - The University Executive Director of Finance & Operations, Jonathan Blakeman, spoke on the University’s financial position. The data presented did not preclude the negotiation of a realistic pay claim for the coming Agreement.

Meeting 5 – 7th July

Discussion of priority clauses - Some genuine work began on relevant change to the content of the Agreement. In the first instance, the CPSU indicated the clauses which are not affected by the Log of Claims, and can be maintained from the current agreement into the new agreement. The University and Unions agreed on some clauses which need change: clause 9, Dispute Resolution; clause 16 fixed term employment; and clause 24, change management. The University will begin drafting changes to these clauses for discussion.

What next?

The CPSU is continuing to draft changes to the clauses affected by our Log of Claims. If you have any ideas that you would like to share please contact one of your General Staff campaign team:

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