Enterprise Bargaining

As announced, on 24 August 2009, the University and the NTEU concluded bargaining in relation to a proposed new enterprise agreement. At that time it was anticipated that the new agreement would be approved within 2 months of that date. However, in the meantime, the National Office of the NTEU sought further negotiations on particular matters of concern to them, and as a consequence the process leading to the implementation of the new agreement has been delayed.

The University has provided a final draft of the agreement to the NTEU for their consideration and is now waiting for advice that the National Executive of the NTEU have approved the agreement. Once this has occurred the University will work as quickly as possible to arrange for the provision of information to staff and for the conduct of a ballot of staff regarding approval of the proposed agreement and then for its submission to Fair Work Australia for approval. It appears likely that this process will now not be finally completed until early in the new year.

No pay increases can be implemented until this process is complete. However, the pay increase provided for in the proposed agreement for the first pay period on or after 31 October 2009 will be back paid once the agreement is approved by Fair Work Australia. Also, staff whose employment ceases between now and the implementation of the proposed agreement will have the anticipated pay increase included in the calculation of their benefits and entitlements.

The University regrets this unfortunate delay and is working as quickly as possible to complete the approval process. Further developments in regard to the implementation of the proposed agreement will be reported as they arise.

Conclusion of Enterprise Bargaining negotiations

We are delighted to be able to advise staff that the University and the NTEU have successfully concluded negotiations on a new enterprise agreement covering academic and professional staff of Monash University.

The key aspects of the new agreement which will run until 30 June 2012 are:

• Salary increases totalling 16.5% over the life of the agreement;
• The increase in casual loading to 25% 12 months after approval of the agreement by Fair Work Australia;
• The removal of the requirement for sessional staff to undertake reasonably contemporaneous marking without additional payment;
• The introduction of a category of employment to allow continuing employment for eligible research only staff and a review of promotion processes for research-only staff;
• The introduction of increased flexibility in regard to membership of UniSuper, in accordance with recent changes to the UniSuper Trust Deed and the phasing  in of  improved superannuation entitlements for fixed-term research only staff;
• The introduction of improved processes regarding consultation about change;
• The introduction of new fixed term Early Career Development Fellowships for sessional academic staff, including fellowships dedicated to Indigenous academic staff;
• The employment of increased numbers of Indigenous staff;
• The introduction of improved access to adoption leave;
• The implementation of a new category of additional unpaid parental leave in accordance with the Fair Work Act; and
• The reintroduction of limitations on the use of fixed term employment in specified circumstances.

As is usual in the negotiation of such agreements, both sides have made compromises and shown a great deal of goodwill in achieving agreement on these matters.  There are other matters of a detailed and technical nature that have been agreed that are designed to improve the working life of Monash staff and to help the University to better manage its resources.  These will require significant effort by Human Resources Division staff and their colleagues in the Faculties and Divisions as they are implemented over the coming months.

There are now a number of steps the university needs to undertake in order to get the approval of Fair Work Australia to the agreement.  These measures include some final drafting of remaining detailed clauses, meetings with staff to explain the terms and effect of the new agreement, arranging a vote by academic and professional staff etc.; these steps may take up to two months to complete.  In the interim staff can find out more information by accessing the:

• Monash EB web site
• NTEU Monash Branch EB  web site
• Summary Document (pdf, 1.6mb)

The University and the NTEU look forward to working together with the assistance of this new agreement to deliver the best possible working environment for Monash’s academic and professional staff, and to continue on Monash’s trajectory as one of Australia’s and the world’s best universities.

Global Email to all staff at Australian Campuses from Peter Marshall, Vice-President (Administration)

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Dear Colleagues

You may be aware the NTEU has called for a 24 hour strike on Thursday, 21 May 2009 at all Victorian campuses of the University.

Employers (including Monash University) are prohibited from making a payment to an employee engaging in industrial action (section 507 of the Workplace Relations Act).  In order to administer pay deduction arrangements for staff who take strike action on 21 May 2009, the University requires full-time and part-time staff who participate in industrial action on Thursday, 21 May 2009 to complete a declaration form, available at www.adm.monash.edu.au/enterprise-bargaining/ If you do not participate in industrial action, you do not need to complete any separate form or declaration, and you will be paid as per normal for work undertaken on this day.

Once completed and authorised by your supervisor /nominee of supervisor, the form should be returned to Human Resources Division no later than COB Wednesday 27 May 2009.  Administrative action to deduct pay will occur on payday 18 June 2009.

These arrangements only impact on academic and professional (general) staff, they do not presently apply to trades and services staff.  On the strike day, there are likely to be NTEU picket lines at entrances to each Victorian campus of the University, commencing from as early as 6:30am.

Advice on a range of related issues such as leave and working from home arrangements, dealing with picket lines and campus access on the strike day is available at www.adm.monash.edu.au/enterprise-bargaining/  For any queries please email workplacerelations@adm.monash.edu.au

Strike Action Declaration form

• Download Strike Action Declaration form (doc)

Leave arrangements for Thursday 21st May 2009

• Annual Leave - Staff who are on approved leave authorised prior to 19/5/09 at the time of the industrial action are exempt from the requirements to submit a form in relation to the period of industrial action. Please note that retrospective applications to take annual leave on Thursday 21st May will not be accepted
• Working From Home Arrangements - existing working from home arrangements continue to apply
• Sick Leave - All sick leave requests for Thursday 21st May must be supported by a medical certificate
• Existing flexible working arrangements and time off in lieu arrangements continue to apply

Guidelines to assist staff in relation to picket lines

• Download guidelines (doc)

Hints for dealing with picket lines and traffic disruption at Clayton Campus

• Download hints (doc)

A message from Professor Adam Shoemaker, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Peter Marshall, Vice-President (Administration)
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Payment of 2% salary increase

We are very pleased to advise that on this coming pay day, Thursday 23 April 2009, all eligible staff will be receiving a 2% salary increase as previously advised by the Vice-Chancellor (in a global email on 5 February 2009). Detailed information including web links to the revised salary rates is available at http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/enterprise-bargaining/

This increase has been awarded in recognition that staff at Monash have not received a salary increase for some time, and that the current round of enterprise bargaining is still not yet complete at Monash and many other universities. The increase is to be absorbed within any salary increases negotiated as part of any future enterprise agreement. The increase has not been paid to senior academic (DVCs, PVCs, Deans etc,) and professional (above HEW Level 10) staff of the university.

The University remains optimistic of reaching an enterprise agreement with the NTEU. Nevertheless in the event that an enterprise bargaining agreement is not reached in the near future, the University will review options to provide a further “administrative” pay increase in the latter part of 2009. This will be depend upon the University’s financial situation and any improvement in the University’s capacity to provide additional benefits, which may for example emerge from either the forthcoming federal or state government budgets.

We will continue to keep you informed of the progress of enterprise bargaining and negotiations. If staff have any queries they can email them to ebfeedback@adm.monash.edu.au

The University has decided to proceed with the payment of a 2% administrative salary increase to eligible academic, professional and trades and services staff at the Australian campuses.

The increase is payable with effect from 11 April 2009.

• New salary rates

A message to all staff at Australian campuses from Professor Richard Larkins, Vice-Chancellor
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2% salary increase for university staff

The University has been in intensive negotiations with the NTEU since mid 2008 for a new enterprise agreement to replace the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and General Staff) 2005.

Although the negotiations have been productive, and significant progress has been achieved, some key issues (including salary rates) remain unresolved.  The University will continue to work towards a final agreement with the NTEU.

Having regard to the progress already achieved in negotiations and the encouraging prospects for final agreement, I am pleased to advise that I have approved a 2% salary increase for academic, professional, and trades and services staff employed by the University at its Australian campuses.

The increase will take effect from the commencement of the first full pay period after 31 March 2009.  It will be paid by administrative action and is to be absorbed within the salary increases yet to be agreed with the NTEU and the unions representing trades and services staff in the current round of enterprise bargaining negotiations.

The new salary rates payable will be displayed at http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/enterprise-bargaining/.  At this stage, the salary increase applies only to base salary, and allowances directly linked to base salary, and therefore does not apply to Heads of Department / Heads of School loadings or allowances etc.  As well the increase does not apply to professional staff employed above Level 10 D, academic staff at the level of Dean or above, Pro Vice-Chancellors, or members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group.

I remain hopeful that final agreement will be achieved soon with the NTEU.

Negotiations continuing - the parties are continuing to meet regularly and discussions continue to be conducted in a positive and cooperative manner.

Significant progress has been made by the parties in reviewing the provisions of the 2005 Agreement and in discussing proposals for amendments and new provisions.

Additional negotiation meetings have been scheduled and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Negotiations to replace the now expired Monash University (Academic & General Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2005 commenced in June 2008 between Monash University and the NTEU representing general and academic staff).

To date there have been seven negotiation meetings. Meetings are continuing and negotiations are scheduled weekly.

Whilst negotiations continue the terms of the 2005 Agreement continue to apply.

The University and the NTEU have exchanged documents outlining the major items to be discussed during negotiations.

Further updates will be posted as the negotiations continue.