Greetings members.
Did you know that the Central American three-toed sloth moves at only 2.4 metres per minute and is so slow that it has an algae that grows on its coat?
And yet it is still quicker that the University of Newcastle enterprise bargaining process!
Welcome to your first update from your union, the CPSU NSW, regarding negotiations towards your new Enterprise Agreement.
To date there have been six meetings to the parties. This is your first bulletin because, to be honest, some of them have not produced much progress.
The CPSU NSW has, following consultation with its members which was greatly appreciated from those who participated, developed and served upon the University its log of claims, which is essentially its wishlist of what we seek to be improved or maintained. You can view that log of claims HERE.
While our first few meetings were taken with the university providing predictably dire forecasts regarding budgets and enrolments, in recent weeks the unions have tabled a few clauses they jointly seek, which served also to test management’s appetite for change, namely the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy, and Gender Affirmation Leave.
In an ominous sign for the collegiate future of negotiations, the latter has already been rejected by the university.
The university, in turn, has tabled a long list of changes it seeks to make to many areas of leave, many of which it claims are necessitated by legislative changes.
But concerningly from the outset, the university proposes to split the current allocation of personal leave (25 days per year which can accrue if unused) and compassionate leave (two days per occasion which cannot accrue) into some strange hybrid of 15 days accruable personal leave and 10 days non-accruable “life leave”.
None of this is currently agreed and will be scrutinised closely by your union before being reported back in more detail as negotiations progress.
What is clear at this early stage is that the university’s stated aim of making a deal by Christmas this year seems as likely to be met as Mr Ed winning Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
What we can promise though is that your union will be there making sure your views and interests are represented all of the way.
Sloth-paced or not, there has never been a more relevant time for non-members to join the CPSU NSW, so please share this information with your colleagues and encourage them to be part of one collective voice.
If you want any further information or would like to offer input, please don’t hesitate to contact one of the CPSU bargaining team:
Delegates
Mark Smith
Shell Dillon
Zain Hamid
Zane Metcalfe
Staff
Ian Braithwaite Newcastle Regional Organiser
Yours in union,
Troy Wright
Branch Assistant Secretary
CPSU NSW
