The role of staff representatives on UniSuper
Are you an academic or general staff member who would like to serve the university community by nominating for the UniSuper Consultative Committee? Please contact Bill Deller, NTEU La Trobe Branch President, please contact Bill Deller, x 3819 M 0429792274 or by e-mail w.deller@latrobe.edu.au .
The general staff position has recently been vacated, with nominations closing on 8 February 2008, nomination forms are available from Ms Regie Pasco on EXT 1892.
The academic staff position is currently held by NTEU member Dr Graeme Nyberg who will vacate the position after his long service leave runs out in 2008.
What’s involved?
The
UniSuper Consultative Committee consists of two employer
representatives and two elected staff representatives (one
academic, one general) from all medium size and large Australian
universities. Small universities have fewer representatives
on the Committee.
The staff representatives are the link between UniSuper and its members, and these representatives can bring the concerns of members to the attention of the fund as required. The Consultative Committee receives periodic reports from the Board of UniSuper. It meets once a year in Melbourne and after each meeting there are workshops on UniSuper achievements and programs.
Why is it important?
There
are two important reasons to ensure very good staff representation
at the Consultative Committee level:
1) No changes can be made to the UniSuper Trust Deed without the permission of the Consultative Committee. Staff representatives can prevent changes that can disadvantage members, such as attempts by employers to lower their contribution level.
2) Staff representatives elect a number of UniSuper Board members out of the Consultative Committee.
It is a measure of the importance which the Union attaches to protecting our members’ superannuation interests that NTEU National Assistant Secretary, Ted Murphy, is both a Union nominated Board member and Deputy Chair of UniSuper.
The election
process
UniSuper will invite nominations from all La
Trobe University staff when there is a vacancy. The
Consultative Committee position will be filled by a ballot of all
La Trobe University for vacant staff representative positions.
Prior to the election the Branch will let members know who we endorse for the election. If there is more than one NTEU member who is interested in being endorsed by the Branch we will discuss a selection process for gaining the endorsement.