Enterprise Bargaining

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 EBA 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)