Conditions by Subject
This page contains a list of different kinds of common industrial issues and conditions, which you can click to see a basic summary.
Please note that these summaries are not a substitute for industrial advice - for detailed advice and assistance please contact your local NTEU Branch.
Click here to see your Branch and Division's contact details.
Click on any of the topics below to see a summary.
Further information:
| Intellectual Property | Intellectual Property (IP) is an increasingly complicated area in universities. It refers to a range of rights relating to ownership and control of the products of intellectual endeavour. |
| Annual Leave and Leave Loading | Recreation leave; leave loading |
| Awards and Agreements | Decisions of industrial tribunal; minimum pay and conditions; safety net; AWAs |
| AWAs - individual contracts | Contracts and Certified Agreements; AWAs used to undercut rates of pay; ILO obligations |
| Fixed-term Contracts | Finishing date; limited access to unfair dismissal jurisdiction; discrimination; application in TAFE |
| Higher Duties Allowance | Payment for working in a higher classfication; qualifying periods; part-payment |
| Hours of Work - General Staff | Usually applicable to general staff; Part-Time employees paid pro-rata; excessive hours; overtime; flexitime; annualised hours |
| Ill-Health Termination by the Employer | Employer's ability to terminate employee if unable to perform job due to ill-health for prolonged period; Procedures to protect employees; Temporary disability application to superannuation fund; medical panels |
| Indigenous Employees - Specific Employment Conditions | Specific provisions relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff; cultural leave; Indigenous employment strategy |
| Junior Rates of Pay | Lower age-based rates of pay; usually for under 21s; Discrimination; ILO; NTEU opposition |
| Long Service Leave | Usually three months leave after ten years service; set out in certified agreements; transferability of LSL; notice to take leave; casual service and LSL |
| Outsourcing - Contracting Out | Employer transfer of activities to another employer; transmission of business; Union protection |
| Overtime & TOIL - General Staff | Extra payment for extra work or time off in lieu (TOIL); Overtime barrier for senior staff; penalty payments |
| Probation | A period at commencement of employment; unfair dismissal; termination; performance reviews; differences for academic and general staff |
| Public/University Holidays | Usually set out in Collective Agreements; penalty rates; substitute days |
| Resignation | Termination of employment by the employee; Constructive dismissal; NTEU members advised not to resign unless definite; employee entitlements; Transfer of NTEU membership |
| Salaries & Salary Payment | Annual amount; usually paid fortnightly; mode of payment; salary packaging; rates of pay in Collective Agreement; electronic funds transfer; minimum rates of pay |
| Salary Packaging | Salary sacrificing; provisions allow some of the employee's cash salary in non-cash equivalent to achieve the same total remuneration; used to decrease income tax payable |
| Settlement of Disputes/Grievance Procedures | Provisions for settling disputes; industrial action; conciliation; arbitration; resolution |
| Superannuation | Fund contributed to by the employer (and sometimes the employee) for retirement; In higher education, nearly all employees are in UniSuper; same-sex couples |
| Termination/Discipline for Misconduct | Employer's ability to terminate for serious misconduct; discipline procedures; academic and most general staff; Federal Court case; allegations |
| Termination/Discipline for Unsatisfactory Performance | Counselling prior to warnings; laying of charges; procedures required prior to dismissal |
| Termination of Employment - Limits Generally | Comprehensive code for termination in some Agreements; summary dismissal; abandonment of employment; frustration of contract |
| Types of Employment | Continuing employment; tenure; permanent employment; fixed-term contracts; temporary; casual employment; sessional employment, |
| Workloads - Academic | Limits on workload for academic staff; stress; consultation procedures about workload |
| Workloads - General Staff | Excessive hours of work and intensification of work during working hours; stress |