We are disappointed to report that the union-endorsed SCU Enterprise Agreement has been quashed by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission, after the NTEU lodged an appeal after its approval at first instance.
The Enterprise Agreement approval was quashed on the grounds that the university made misleading statements regarding the sign on bonus.
That the legal challenge of the agreement you voted for has held its implementation up for so long due to protracted legal action by one Union is frustrating. But that the Union which led the challenge can now claim that holding up the agreement and creating employment uncertainty as some sort of victory is disillusioning.
We understand how disappointed the staff covered by the now-quashed agreement are feeling and share the sentiment. The decision now places further pay rises and conditions of the EA in jeopardy.
What is clear by the decision is that the NTEU’s “win” results in a devastating loss for all Professional staff.
It makes a mockery of the claim that only one Union can represent the interests of all staff in the higher education sector, especially when that Union is led by an elite few with no regard for the impacts of their ideologically driven decisions.
Contrary to what you may hear, the decision does not force SCU back to the bargaining table. The CPSU NSW is committed to working towards and achieving the best possible outcome and after the effort of the bargaining team to get our claims accepted, we will continue to fight for the best possible outcomes for Professional Staff.
