News

Wednesday, 28 January 2026

University of Newcastle: Bargaining update


We are pleased to share an update on our recent bargaining meeting and the progress we’ve made in negotiating your new enterprise agreement.

Progress on key clauses

We would like to report that several important clauses have been agreed upon in principle:

  • Major workplace change provisions
  • Parental Leave entitlements
  • Long Service Leave arrangements
  • Misconduct procedures
  • Review mechanism for decisions

Wage negotiations

The university has proposed a three-year pay offer as follows:

  Timing Proposed increase
March 2026 3.45 per cent
March 2027 3.3 per cent
March 2028 3.25 per cent

Your bargaining team has initially declined this offer and believe we can achieve better outcomes for members. Here’s why we’re continuing negotiations:

  • The public sector wage price index is currently 3.8-3.9 per cent
  • Australia’s Consumer Price Index stands at 3.4 per cent
  • The university has the financial capacity to offer more competitive increases

We encourage feedback from you regarding the proposed pay offer and potential counteroffers that better reflect your valuable work and contributions to the university.

Life Leave provisions

We have secured an important improvement to Life Leave entitlements.

Life Leave can now be used for sick leave purposes where you have exhausted 120 hours of carers leave, providing additional support when you need it most.

This new provision offers meaningful protection for members facing health challenges.

Union representation rights

Discussions regarding delegate leave have slowed, but we remain confident that agreement is within reach. Our focus continues to be on securing appropriate leave provisions that enable your delegates to support members like you effectively.

What happens next?

Our next bargaining meeting is on 29 January. At this meeting, we will be presenting a pay counteroffer to the university. Your bargaining team is working diligently to prepare a proposal that reflects your needs and the current economic environment.

Stay connected

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity. Together, we’re working toward an agreement that recognises your dedication and ensures fair working conditions for all CPSU NSW members at the university. Your engagement makes us stronger.

If you have questions, concerns, or want to share your perspective, please don’t hesitate to reach out to:

Mark Smith

Shell Dillon

Zain Hamid

Union contacts

Member Support Centre
1800 772 679

Mike Galvez Industrial Officer