CPSU at UNE

(With thanks to Andrew Holland, taken from the latest UNE CPSU Branch Member Bulletin Vol. 12)

The Fair Work Act 2009 commenced on 1 July 2009.

The ACTU has called this “an historic step forward for the rights of working Australians and their families”, that will “provide workers with a raft of stronger rights and protections in the current economic downturn, and in
better times ahead”.

The new laws are the result of an unprecedented campaign by Australian workers based firmly on the Australian belief of a fair go, who demanded the return of their rights at work after those rights were stripped away by the Howard Government’s ‘WorkChoices’ laws. Amongst other things the new laws will mean:

• Genuine rights for workers to collectively bargain and be represented by their union.
• Unfair dismissal for all workers, including about 4 million workers who had no protection under WorkChoices.
• A robust new safety net of awards and national standards, along with a fair and transparent process for setting minimum wages.
• An industrial umpire with teeth to safeguard workers’ rights.

Q: How does this effect me?
A: UNE’s new Enterprise Agreement will be a Fair Work agreement.

You can find more information, and a copy of the full Act via the following link: http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/Legislation/FairWorkBill.htm

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about Fair Work or the Enterprise Bargaining process, please feel free to email Branch President and EB team member, Jen Mitchell.

After elections at the AGM on May 6, the following members have been appointed to your 2009 CPSU Branch Committee:

President
Jen Mitchell
jen.mitchell@une.edu.au
x3736

Vice President
Kylie Day
kday3@une.edu.au
x4502

Secretary
Crystal Plowman
cplowma2@une.edu.au
x3603

Assistant Secretary
Judy Stott
jstott@une.edu.au
x2322

Womens Officer
Amanda Lang
alang13@une.edu.au
x3087

HERC Representatives
Rob Webster
rwebster@une.edu.au
x3699
Marney Tilley
mtilley@une.edu.au
x4427

Indigenous Officer
Jackie Vale
jvale2@une.edu.au
x4472

OH&S Officer
Rowan Webb
rwebb@une.edu.au
x3167

CPSU Rep on EEO Committee
Judy Stott
jstott@une.edu.au
x2322

Delegates
Marilyn Cosgrove
mcosgro2@une.edu.au
x3542
Hans Schaefer
hans.schaefer@une.edu.au
x3703

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank last year’s executive for all of their hard work, and to welcome the new executive members to the team. Hopefully the governance issues of the past 12 months have died down, but with EB still in full swing, and a raft of member issues to deal with we’ll be keeping them busy!

As members, we’re here for you. So if you have any questions, comments, concerns or issues please feel free to contact any one of us in the ways above.

Got time on your hands? There are still 2 Delegate positions vacant. If you are enthusiastic, want to get involved, and can spare a few hours each fortnight please contact us for information on how to apply.

Many thanks to all who attended our AGM on the 6th of May. We had a great turnout, and consructive feedback from members on a number of important issues.

The AGM also served as a members meeting to discuss clauses agreed to “in principle” by your Enterprise Bargaining team. I am pleased to annanouce that after discussion, the members present endorsed all 16 clauses put forward. These clauses were: Accident Makeup Pay, Callback Arrangements, Christmas Break, Commitments, Documentation, Incremental Progression, Jury & Witness Leave, Meal & Tea Breaks, OH&S, Public Holidays, Resignation, Rosters, Ten Hour Breaks, Termination, Types of Employment, University Shutdown.

Bargaining continues, with the following further clauses agreed to “in principle” recently: Modes of Employment, Classification, Probation, Abandonment of Employment, Medical Retirement, Overtime (including TOIL at overtime rates), Workloads, Annual Leave, Long Service Leave, Terms of Engagement, Salary Packaging and Hours of Work.

As with the clauses presented at the AGM, you will soon have the opportunity as members to offer feedback and endorsement of these new clauses. Keep an eye on this blog for further details of when the next members meeting will be.

As you will be aware, your CPSU EB team have been busily entrenched in negotiations for a new Enterprise Agreement since September last year.

We’ve been arguing strongly for the issues in our log of claims, which are based on the feedback that you the members gave us as part of our discussion groups last year. While things might not be progressing as quickly as we may have liked, we have made some headway. Below you will find 16 clauses which have been agreed to “in principle” by all parties at the bargaining table, and which need to be endorsed by members in order to be made “official”.

Soon you will receive an email which summarises the main points of difference (if any) between these proposed clauses, and the existing clauses in the 2006-2008 agreement. The following PDFs are the full versions of each new clause for those who are interested.

Accident Makeup Pay
Callback Arrangements
Christmas Break
Commitments
Documentation
Incremental Progression
Jury & Witness Leave
Meal & Tea Breaks
OH&S
Public Holidays
Resignation
Rosters
Ten Hour Breaks
Termination
Types of Employment
University Shutdown

Your bargaining team would like to stress that it has taken a lot of time to come up with the specific words you see in the clauses above. Therefore, when it comes time to vote we would prefer not to get into debates about semantics, typos, and grammatical errors (which will be edited before the final copy is printed).

We believe that these proposed clauses offer the best possible outcome for members, and meet many of our key claims. However, if you (as a member) have a concern about a “meatier” issue within these clauses, now is the time to speak up. You can leave feedback in the comments here (bearing in mind that this is a public space), or email Marney Tilley (mtilley@une.edu.au), Kylie Day (kday3@une.edu.au), or Jen Mitchell (jmitch24@une.edu.au).

The clauses will be put forward for edorsement at our AGM on May 6, so it is vitally important that you attend to have your say.

Well, it’s that time of year again, and further to the email sent to members earlier this month here are the details for the 2009 AGM:

CPSU UNE Branch AGM

“Meet & Eat”

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

12:30-1:30pm

Oorala Lecture Theatre

All CPSU members are entitled to vote at the meeting
A light lunch will be provided
Non-members welcome

Nominations are open for executive and delegate positions for 2009. A full list of positions, and a copy of the nomination form can be found here.

Important Note: During periods of Enterprise Bargaining we are entitled to hold 2 meetings within work time. The University have officially recognised this meeting as one of them. This means that you can come during work time, and are entitled to be released from your normal duties to do so.

We are hoping to have the AGM proportion of the meeting over fairly quickly, so that we can focus on updating you all on the progress of Enterprise Bargaining. Most importantly, there are now 16 clauses which have been agreed to “in principle” by all parties at the Bargaining table, and which we need you to vote on.

Come for the free food, and stay for a chance to have your say on employment conditions which effect your workplace!

Want to know what your Union is up to on campus? Well, you’re in the right place!

The CPSU UNE Branch executive would like to welcome you to our shiny new blog. Over the next few months all of your elected executive representatives will be posting here; keeping you up to date with branch news, issues, and the latest on the Enterprise Bargaining front. So, stop by and get to know us (we don’t bite!).

You can also visit the UNE page of the official CPSU website here.

Not already a member? CPSU is the union for General Staff on campus. The benefits of membership are many, so grab a copy of the membership form here, and join today!