Enterprise Bargaining

A message to all academic and professional staff at all Australian campuses from Professor Adam Shoemaker, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Mr Peter Marshall, Vice-President (Administration)

Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and Professional Staff) 2009 – approval by Fair Work AustraliaWe are pleased to advise that the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and Professional Staff) 2009 has now been approved by Deputy President Hamilton of Fair Work Australia to commence operation from 29 January 2010. This follows the overwhelming approval of the Agreement in the staff ballot conducted from 15-18 December 2009.

The implementation of the Agreement will include:

• Payment of salary increases of 16.5% over the life of the Agreement, including an immediate 1.5% salary increase effective from 7 November 2009;
• An increase in casual loadings for academic and professional staff to 24% from 30 January 2010 and a further increase to 25% in 2011;
• Improvements in conditions applying to sessional (Teaching Associate) staff with regard to access to facilities and resources, professional development, opportunities to apply for internal vacancies and grant funding, and initial induction;
• Introduction of a number of Early Career Development Fellowships for eligible sessional (Teaching Associate) staff
• Improvements in parental and carer’s leave entitlements; and
• Introduction of continuing (contingent funded) employment for qualifying fixed-term research-only staff.

However, until 29 January 2010, the current Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and General Staff) 2005 remains in operation. Work has commenced to process the payment of the 1.5% pay increase to eligible staff (backdated to 7 November 2009), and advice will be provided in the near future regarding the date on which the increase and back-pay will be paid.

We would once again like to thank the academic and professional staff of the university for their support of the Agreement and look forward to working with the NTEU in implementing its provisions. The negotiation of a replacement agreement for the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Trades and Services Staff – Building and Metal Trades Staff and Grounds and Gardening Staff) 2005 is continuing.

Should you require any further information or assistance regarding the new Agreement, please contact the staff of the Workplace Relations Branch on extension 29661 or via e-mail to ebfeedback@adm.monash.edu.au.

Negotiations continuing – the parties are continuing to meet regularly and discussions continue to be conducted in a positive and cooperative manner.

Significant progress has been made by the parties in reviewing the provisions of the 2005 Agreement and in discussing proposals for amendments and new provisions.

Additional negotiation meetings have been scheduled and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Negotiations to replace the now expired Monash University (Academic & General Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2005 commenced in June 2008 between Monash University and the NTEU representing general and academic staff).

To date there have been seven negotiation meetings. Meetings are continuing and negotiations are scheduled weekly.

Whilst negotiations continue the terms of the 2005 Agreement continue to apply.

The University and the NTEU have exchanged documents outlining the major items to be discussed during negotiations.

Further updates will be posted as the negotiations continue.