Enterprise Bargaining

• Trades and Services staff (Building and Metal Trades staff and Grounds and Gardening staff) 2005
• Summary of changes for the proposed Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) [MSWord] [PDF]
• Trades and Services staff (Catering and Retail, Cleaning and Caretaking, and Miscellaneous services staff) 2005

Enterprise Agreement update

Tuesday 8th November 2005

In his global e-mail of 20 October 2004, Professor Stephen Parker advised that the negotiation of HEWRRs-compliant replacement agreements for the existing Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) 2000 and Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Catering and Retail, Cleaning and Caretaking, and Miscellaneous Services Staff) 2000 was underway.

I am pleased to advise that the negotiation of those replacement agreements is now concluded. The terms of the proposed Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) 2005 and Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Catering and Retail, Cleaning and Caretaking, and Miscellaneous Services Staff) 2005 have today been settled between University management, the CEPU (Electrical Division), CEPU (Plumbing Division), CFMEU, LHMU, NTEU, and the trades and services staff representatives. In addition, the Department of Education, Science and Training has informed the University that it will recommend the proposed Agreements to the Minister as being HEWRRs-compliant.

It is now intended to submit the proposed Agreements to a ballot of trades and services staff. If the Agreements are both approved by a majority of those voting, the University will apply for the certification of the Agreements under section 170LJ of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

The ballot is planned to be held on Wednesday 23 November 2005 on a show-of-hands basis at each campus. Further details of the proposed ballot process are to be advised shortly. All full-time, part-time, casual, and seasonal trades and services staff covered by the proposed Agreements and employed by the University on the day of the ballot will be eligible to vote.

Prior to the conduct of the ballot, the Workplace Relations Act1996 requires the University to take reasonable steps to ensure that all staff covered by the proposed Agreements either have, or have ready access to, the Agreements in writing, and that the terms of the proposed Agreement are explained to those staff. You are therefore requested to draw this e-mail and its contents to the immediate attention of trades and services staff under your supervision and management.

Staff are invited to inspect copies of the proposed Agreements on the web at http://www.monash.edu.au/entbarg/trades-services-bmgg-2005/ or http://www.monash.edu.au/entbarg/trades-services-crccm-2005/. Y our assistance in providing your staff with the necessary computer access would be appreciated. The distribution of hard copies is also to follow next week, and information sessions are planned for each campus to explain the terms of the proposed Agreements over the fortnight commencing 7 November 2005.

Details of the information sessions will be advised shortly and FAQs for posting on the Human Resources Division website are under development. Should staff require any further information or assistance regarding the proposed Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) 2005 or Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Catering and Retail, Cleaning and Caretaking, and Miscellaneous Services Staff) 2005, please contact the staff of the Employee Relations Branch on extension 56996 or via e-mail on EntBarg@adm.monash.edu.au.

Current advice from the Department of Education, Science and Training is that the certification of the proposed Agreements together with the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and General Staff) 2005 is required if the University is to be eligible for increased Commonwealth funding, estimated at $8m for 2006. I would therefore urge all trades and services staff eligible to vote in the forthcoming ballot to consider the proposed Agreements carefully and I recommend them for their approval.

Peter S Marshall

Vice-President Administration

How do I vote for the Proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2005?

All staff members eligible to vote with email access will have received a personalised email at midnight on the 8 th of November 2005. The email contains a personalised web link to the secure voting site for the ballot.

Once you have clicked on either the “Yes” box or the “No” box, pressed “submit” and closed your web browser your vote will be recorded.

Staff who are on leave or who do not have access to the web have been sent a postal ballot. The postal vote must be returned to the returning officer by 5:00pm on Wednesday 9 th November.

When can I vote?

The ballot site is only open from 9:00am Tuesday 8 November until 5:00pmWednesday 9 November. Any votes submitted electronically or by paper vote after this time are invalid and will not be recorded.

Can I vote more than once?

Each staff member may only vote the once.

It looks like I can vote many times if I use the “Back” button on my web browser, does this mean I can vote more than once?

Because of the personalised nature of the link, the vote will only be recorded once you have closed your web browser. It is possible to press the submit button many times, however only one vote will be recorded.

Can my vote be identified?

Your vote is anonymous and your personal information will not be recorded against, or connected with, your vote.

When will the results of the vote be announced?

It is anticipated that all the votes will be counted and released to Monash University on or shortly after 10 November 2005.