Enterprise Bargaining

Global Email

As you may be aware the contents of the proposed Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and General Staff) 2005 were agreed upon by the university and the NTEU earlier this year. Since then, the NTEU and the university together with elected staff representatives of the academic and general staff revised the Agreement to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs).

Over the past two weeks a series of staff forums were held across all campuses and the Agreement has been available for staff inspection at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/entbarg/academic-general-2005/

The Agreement must now be put to a ballot of all eligible staff prior to its certification by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. All full-time, part-time, casual, and sessional academic and general staff covered by the proposed Agreement and employed by the university in Australia during the period of the ballot are eligible to vote.

On 4 th November 2005, eligible staff without email access or who are on leave were sent postal ballots, which must be returned by close of business on Wednesday 9 th November 2005.

At 12:00am on Tuesday the 8 th of November staff members will receive an email addressed to their Monash University email account containing a personalised web address that links to the EBA ballot site. The ballot site is being administered by an external company “Computershare”.

Staff will be able to access the site between 9:00am on Tuesday the 8 th of November and 5:00pm on Wednesday the 9 th of November. The ballot site will be closed after these times and any votes submitted will not be accepted.

Any staff members who believe they will not be able to participate in the electronic ballot are requested to contact the Employee Relations department on ext. 56996 or email: entbarg@adm.monash.edu.au to organise alternative voting arrangements.

Andrew Picouleau

Acting Director Human Resources

Will superannuation arrangements change?

The current employer contributions and arrangements for superannuation will be maintained by the new agreement. Research-only staff will be eligible to apply for membership of Unisuper Defined Benefit Plant/Investment Choice after 12 months continuous service, subject to the availability of funds.

Do the new maternity leave provisions apply to all instances of maternity leave?

Yes, for maternity leave commenced after the date of certification. If you are the birth mother with at least 24 months of service you will be entitled to 14 weeks full pay plus 38 weeks at 60% for each instance of maternity leave applied for after the date of certification.

If my fixed term contract expires after a period of parental leave at 60% pay, am I required to pay back any money if I haven’t been back at work for a period equivalent to the period of parental leave at 60%?

No, you will not be subject to the repayment provisions of the maternity leave clause if your fixed term contract is not renewed by the university. This only applies in the event of resignation.

What is the Monash University Staff Implementation Committee?

The EBA has established a committee which comprises 3 members directly elected by staff (including the Committee chair) as well as 2 nominees each of the NTEU and the University. The Committee will facilitate the HEWRR requirement for direct consultation between the University and staff on workplace relations and human resource matters.

When do the provisions of the EBA come into effect?

Once the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) certifies the agreement, the provisions will become effective immediately.

How do I vote for the EBA?

The University will be enabling staff to conduct their vote via the web. On or shortly after the 3rd of November 2005, a global email will be issued to all staff giving details about the voting website with login instructions. The vote will be open from 9:00am Tuesday the 8 th November to 5:00pm Wednesday the 9 th of November. Staff who do not currently have internet access or have been identified by SAP as being on leave, will be have the option of a postal vote.