Find your University:
University of New South Wales CPSU Branch

The University of NSW Branch

UNSWBackboneBanner
 Members' Bargaining Report #16 21 July 2010      

As CPSU members are aware the University released a consolidated draft general staff agreement on 2 July 2010.

Since that time your CPSU Bargaining Team has been working hard to ensure that all the positive outcomes achieved so far are confirmed in the agreement and that we continue to push for all of our outstanding claims.

We believe that there are only a few key outstanding issues remaining for general staff.

What is happening with annual leave?

A key issue for all general staff has been annual leave. The CPSU has so far negotiated some positive changes to annual leave but the main outstanding issue relates to your right to take annual leave when you want to.

Our claim is to allow general staff to accumulate up to 40 days annual leave before the University can direct the leave to be taken.

The University’s counter claim is to allow general staff to accumulate up to 30 days annual leave before they can direct the taking of leave.

Unfortunately the University has re-structured each budget unit to penalise the unit if staff do not take all their annual leave. Most staff have been informed they need to take 20 days of annual leave each year and further that they will need to set aside three days of annual leave for an end of year shutdown.

We believe the CPSU claim is the most responsible and effective way for the University and staff to manage their annual leave.

We acknowledge that there may be a problem for the University with excess annual leave accrual BUT THIS IS PREDOMINANTLY AN ACADEMIC ISSUE. The most recent Auditor-General’s Report to Parliament 2010 shows an increasing number of academics with excess annual leave yet a decreasing number of general staff;

Number of staff with more than 40 days of Annual Leave

Academic Members General Staff
2009 2008 2007 2009 2008 2007
507 414 281 254 317 374

Currently the University cannot force all general staff to take annual leave for a defined shutdown period.

The CPSU opposes any attempt by the University to force general staff to take annual leave to cover a University shutdown. This is why your bargaining team will continue to reject the insertion of a shutdown clause in the new agreement.

What do you want in the annual leave clause?

Please let us know what you would be prepared to accept, and what you want to do next in your negotiations with the University. Go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/unswcpsu
to respond and have your say about our future Annual Leave conditions.

As requested, improvements made so far in the proposed Agreement are in the table below.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Next EB meeting

27 July 2010

To be discussed:
Your response to the
UNSW Draft
Agreement &
remaining Claims

Please send us your
comments so they
can be included in
our response!

Please email:

unsw@
thegeneralstaffunion.
org.au

Your continued
support is important
to ensure YOU GET
THE VERY BEST
Agreement possible.

Contact

Adrianne Harris
9385 3426

OR

Deborah Encel
9385 3576

The CPSU
Our own UNSW
Staff Association
just for General Staff

Your Workplace
Your Union

 

Improvements that have been achieved so far in your Enterprise Agreement
 
Clause Improvements for General Staff
Employee Representation The right for the CPSU to represent members in all processes under the Agreement.
University Policies Consultation with staff and CPSU on new policies and changes to existing policies.
Disputes A new and improved process to resolve disputes with:
• The capacity to settle any dispute arising about the Agreement and the National Employment Standards;
• The ability for the CPSU to lodge a dispute on behalf of members;
• The ability for Fair Work to arbitrate a dispute;
• That parties will implement any decision of FWA; and
• The right to appeal against a decision.
Allowances
Schedule 4		 Most allowances to be increased in line with the pay rises to maintain real value.
Superannuation Increased superannuation for fixed term staff (on a contract of over 2 years, or successive contracts over 2+ years) to 17%. For casual staff a guaranteed 9%.
Continuing (contingent funded research) Employment (Claim by UNSW) A new category of ongoing employment where funding is provided from external sources (such as recurrent research funding) to enable improved job security. This means staff can be employed ongoing rather than on recurring contracts. Severance pay is available depending on length of service, if funding ceases or is reduced.
AV Technicians As agreed during the life of the previous agreement, AV Technicians will be included. The exchange of letters provides for a 38 hour week, 7.6 hours per day, 7am-8pm Monday to Friday.
Overtime Part-time staff that are required to work more than their ordinary weekly hours but less than the ordinary full time hours will be paid a loading of 8.33%.
Managing Change Improved opportunities for redeployment and retention of staff through a new Change Management process. Consultation is maintained with the Union having the right to represent members and participate fully in consultations.
Workloads A suitable workloads clause enabling staff (or a group of staff) to request an assessment of workloads to be made. The CPSU has the right to support members through this process and provide an independent assessment.
Long Service Leave Recognition of pro-rata accrual of Long Service Leave, and no loss of Long Service Leave entitlements if weekly hours are reduced.
Carers Leave 12 days of Carer’s Leave, now to be available from the second year of service for staff who care for people not normally defined by “immediate family member”, but where there is a significant and close cultural or family relationship, they can apply for this to be recognised for the purposes of Carer’s Leave.
Bereavement Leave Renamed Compassionate Leave to reflect the National Employment Standards 3 days leave available on each occasion for an immediate family member, or a household member, or someone who is related by blood / marriage or strong affinity by tradition or ceremonial affiliation when that person:
• contracts/develops a personal illness that poses a serious threat to life; or
• sustains a personal injury that poses a serous threat to life; or
• dies.
Grandparent Leave The first employee in the country to pay two weeks grandparent leave to provide care / support when a new grandchild is born, with conditions requiring demonstrable need (final details evidence / circumstance to be negotiated).
Defence Force Leave An additional amount of paid and uncapped Defence Leave is available to be applied for, subject to the Defence Employer Support Payment Scheme covering the cost of the employee on leave.
Study Leave Flex time will be available to be negotiated on an individual basis to accommodate arrangements for study, including lectures & exams – which fall within a work units core hours.
Maternity Leave Not yet finalised but the University has offered to increase maternity leave to 36 weeks for employees with 5 or more years of service.

To help achieve BENCHMARK conditions at UNSW talk to your colleagues at work about our Log of Claims and get them to join the CPSU

Download PDF Version
 

Latest News

UNSW Members Bargaining Report 16

July 21, 2010
Members' Bargaining Report #16 21 July 2010 As CPSU members are aware the University released a consolidated draft general staff agreement on 2 July 2010. Since that time your CPSU ...
more

UNSW Members Bargaining Report 15

July 07, 2010
Members' Bargaining Report #15 7 July 2010 Your CPSU Bargaining Team and representatives of other Unions, met with the University on Tuesday 29 June to continue negotiating the new ...
more

UNSW Members Bargaining Report 13

May 10, 2010
Your CPSU Bargaining Team and representatives of other unions, met with the university on Thursday 22 April and Tuesday 4th May to continue negotiating the new General Staff Enterprise Agreement. The ...
more

More University of New South Wales News...

Latest Campaigns

UNSW Paid Shutdown Leave

September 21, 2009
CPSU members at UNSW are campaigning for the inclusion of paid Shutdown Leave in the next General Staff Enterprise Agreement. We are running a Christmas Card Petition for members & other general staff to show ...
more

Love Our Leave Noticeboard

August 26, 2009
The Love Our Leave campaign online survey has been hugely successful. We will be posting some of the comments General Staff have written in response to the survey here. Please check back regularly to see the ...
more

Love Our Leave Video Petition

August 11, 2009
To launch our General Staff Leave Campaign, we are running a Video Petition! UNSW General Staff are letting the University know why we LOVE OUR LEAVE! Send your video to unsw@thegeneralstaffunion.org.au. Or visit one of our Love Our Leave ...
more

More University of New South Wales Campaigns...