We’ve have been getting a lot of questions about the Enterprise Agreement, so we thought we would clear a few things up.
Firstly, the process for certifying an EA is one that often takes time. There is an initial assessment, after which the EA is then reviewed by a member of the Commission. We understand that it is now sitting with a Commission member and is under review.
If there are issues with the EA, the EA cannot be ‘rejected’. Rather, the Commission will require that legally binding undertakings are made to rectify any problems, which will then form a part of the EA. After these undertakings are made, the EA will be approved.
In the meantime, Serco have advised that they will pay the sign-on bonus shortly, without waiting for the EA to be approved. Again, whilst the Commission tends to move relatively quickly when it comes to approving EAs, this is not always the case. The early payment of the sign-on bonus will not affect the EA in any way.
As soon as the EA is formally approved and/or the Commission contacts the union regarding the EA, we will advise all members. However, please rest assured that these processes do take time, and that any delay in the process is not indicative of there being a major problem.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like more information about the EA approval process, please don’t hesitate to contact the union.
