News

CPSU NSW update: University of NSW

Bargaining for the Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement

The CPSU NSW team met with UNSW management on 23 and 30 March to progress bargaining for the separate Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement (EA).

The meeting on 23 March focused on the following areas for Professional Staff:

• Remote working arrangements
• Fixed-term employment and conversion
• On-call allowances.

A core focus for CSPU NSW members has been on codifying rights on requesting a Remote Working Arrangement in the EA. Members have consistently reported to the CPSU NSW the uneven approach and application of UNSW departments to flexible work arrangements in this area and the current policy is unhelpful in enforcing their rights.

The CPSU NSW is pursuing a standalone clause to make the right to request such an arrangement very clear and beneficial to Professional Staff members whilst taking into account operational requirements of UNSW management.

The meeting on 30 March focused exclusively on the Workplace Change clause. The CPSU NSW UNSW bargaining team considers a near in-principle agreement has been reached on UNSW’s current proposed wording on the Workplace Change clause, subject to further minor amendments and additional improvements that may be made. The changes include:

• The reinstatement of salary maintenance where a Professional Staff member elects to take an Expression of Interest (EOI) position in a new structure following major workplace change. Whilst the current wording of the clause states that the salary maintenance will be for a “maximum” of 12 months, we are seeking this discretionary mechanism be removed to reflect the same conditions under redeployment
• Increased assistance from UNSW in job searching for the purpose of redeployment.

Future meetings

The next meeting is scheduled for 6 April 2023 for an extended session.

The meeting will focus on:

• On-call allowances
• Job security
• Union rights: UNSW response to CPSU NSW claims
• Sick leave: UNSW response to CSPU NSW claims
• Remote working arrangements: UNSW response to CPSU NSW claims
• Other claims as we progress.

The CPSU NSW will keep members updated after each meeting on all progress made.

Get in contact

For any additional information on the progress of bargaining, please do not hesitate to contact the CPSU NSW UNSW Bargaining Team for the Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement.

If you are interested in being a delegate or would like more information about the role or anything above, you can email or call the CPSU NSW.

Your UNSW team

Alister Wareing UNSW Branch President
Ellie Williams UNSW Branch Secretary
Liam O’Donoghue Delegate
Michael Cope Industrial Officer

Community and Public Sector Union (NSW Branch)

What can you do?

• Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
• Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
• Ask a colleague to join the CPSU NSW
• Get involved as your Area Contact
• Become a CPSU Delegate
• Not a member? Join online at cpsunsw.org.au/join