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2004 Archived Enterprise Bargaining news
27 October 2004Current salary offerMonash's current salary offer provides for a compound guaranteed average salary increase of 17.6% and still remains the highest non-contingent salary offer for Victorian universities (see graph below).
Notes:
27 October 2004Deputy Vice Chancellor's messageThe Deputy Vice Chancellor's global email of 27th October providing an update on enterprise bargaining matters. 14 September 2004Strike actionAs you may be aware, recent negotiations over the enterprise agreement have failed to secure an agreement between Monash University and the NTEU particularly on the quantum or agreed salary increase. As a result the NTEU have advise they will be undertaking strike action on Thursday the 16th September. Staff were advised of this in a global email from Professor Alan Lindsay on the 13th September 2004. Pay arrangements for staff who DO NOT participate in strike actionThe University has a legal obligation to comply with the Workplace Relations Act 1996. In particular, section 187AA of the Act prohibits an employer from making a payment to an employee in relation to a period during which the employee engaged in industrial action As the University is prohibited from paying staff who engage in industrial action on Thursday 16th September, those staff who DO NOT participate in industrial action are required to notify the University by Friday 24th September on the appropriate form below.
Guidelines in relation to picket linesIt is anticipated that there will be picket lines at the entrances to campuses of the University on Thursday 16th September. The following guidelines have been prepared in order to assist staff members who do not participate in the industrial action to deal with picket lines. It should be noted that these guidelines have not been agreed with the NTEU but the university has distributed similar guidelines on previous days of strike action. They are based on guidelines issued by other universities and reflect common practice for picket line arrangements generally.
OHS&E GuidelinesThe OHS&E Unit has produced guidelines to address issues resulting from a day of industrial action.
Deputy Vice Chancellor's message
31 August 2004Open letter from Dr. Carol Williams
13 August 2004Enterprise bargaining negotiationsThe University believes that the current enterprise bargaining negotiations will lead to significant improvements in your working conditions. However, a few key issues remain unresolved that the University requires agreement on in order to maintain its position as one of the country's leading universities. On most issues the University and the NTEU are close to agreement. In-principle agreement has been reached on:
These proposals include considerable improvements in benefits for staff, most significantly in regard to parental leave. On 9 August 2004, as a sign of good faith the University announced the payment of a 2% administrative salary increase with effect from 4 September 2004, in advance of negotiations being completed. However, negotiations reached an important turning point during the meeting on Wednesday 11th August. The University has been prepared to amend its original position during negotiations on a number of key issues including managing change, superannuation, intellectual freedom, allowances and performance based contracts. At the 11 August 2004 meeting, the NTEU continued to insist on provisions in relation to these and other matters which are unacceptable to the University. The negotiations concluded on the basis that the parties would consider their respective positions before arranging further negotiations. The University remains hopeful that the NTEU will modify its position on the outstanding matters. It is essential in these negotiations for both sides to be flexible and considerate of the objectives of both parties. The University's negotiating team believes that the NTEU is making unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Monash's current salary offer still remains the highest non-contingent salary offer in Victoria (see graph below), and Monash's parental leave offer is one of the most generous provisions in Victoria (see comparison of parental leave benefits below). Victorian Universities Current Salary & Maternity Leave Offers
Benefits have been calculated to reflect equivalent number of full-time weeks paid leave. 31 May 2004 - Progress on NegotiationsThe Enterprise Bargaining teams have continued to meet on a weekly basis since the beginning of February this year. Negotiations have progressed well with the parties reaching agreement on staff workloads, maternity leave, and grievance procedures for academic and general staff. Significant advancements have also been made in the areas of performance management for general staff and workplace bullying issues. All parties are working towards signing a Heads of Agreement document as swiftly as possible. 21 April 2004 - Heads of Agreement clauses agreed toAfter a long and productive meeting on 21 April, significant progress was made in the negotiations at Monash. Heads of Agreement clauses were agreed relating to:
I am particularly pleased with the outcome on parental leave where the parties have agreed on a new standard for Monash of 14 weeks paid leave on normal salary and a further 38 weeks leave paid at 60 per cent of normal salary. This benefit can, of course, only be available to staff following final certification of the agreement. In recognition of the progress being made, the university has also increased its salary offer to a compounded salary increase of 16.5 per cent (including the 2 per cent administrative increase already paid). Based on the information I have before me, this is currently the highest salary offer made to staff of Victorian universities. I am pleased that negotiations are proceeding in a positive and constructive manner and I hope that this will continue so that this round of enterprise bargaining can be quickly brought to conclusion and staff can then access the benefits of the new agreement. Further details will be available on this page in the next few days. 23 March 2004 - Progress on Round 4 negotiationsEnterprise bargaining negotiations took place on 17, 18 and 23 March with a desire by both the university and the NTEU to make progress as quickly as possible. The meeting considered aspects of the draft Heads of Agreement documents that had previously been exchanged. Initial discussions took place about an approach to new grievance procedures and improved performance management processes for all staff. At today’s meeting, job security provisions were also discussed. The next meeting will be held on 14 April. The agenda will include:
12 March 2004 - More negotiationsEnterprise bargaining negotiations took place on 3 March and 10 March. At the meeting on 10 March, the NTEU supplied the university with the necessary details relating to the NTEU’s log of claims lodged in September last year. This log of claims followed the detailed university offer provided to the NTEU in August 2003. Now that both parties have submitted a draft Heads of Agreement for consideration, negotiations can proceed as a matter of high priority. See the university's draft Heads of Agreement (MSWord) for further information. 18 February 2004 - More negotiationsEnterprise bargaining negotiations recommenced today after the summer break. Monash University and the NTEU agreed to develop a Heads of Agreement, which will deal with the most significant matters arising from the university’s offer of 28 August 2003, and the NTEU’s log of claims dated 26 September 2003. The next meeting will be held on 3 March. 17 February 2004 - Trades and services agreement certifiedThe Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff - Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) 2003 has been certified. Deputy President Ives handed down his decision on the university's application for certification on 12 January 2004. The objections raised by the NTEU at the hearing of the application on 15 December 2004 were rejected. The provisions of the new Agreement are now operative. The increase in fortnightly allowances for licensed Electricians and registered Plumbers is effective immediately and all staff covered by the Agreement are entitled to a minimum 4% salary increase in March. |
