Collective Bargaining
Higher Education - Round 4 completed; Conditions protected
The fourth round of bargaining in higher education institutions has concluded. Despite the difficulties of negotiating against the background of the HEWRRS and WorkChoices, NTEU has been successful in protecting and improving conditions and securing salary increases averaging 24% from the period June 2003 - June 2008.
Specific outcomes which have been achieved at the majority of institutions include:
- paid parental leave of between 26 and 36 weeks
- Indigenous employment strategies
- improved general staff classification procedures
- regulation of academic workloads
- protection and promotion of intellectual freedom
- improved conditions for fixed-term contract staff including right to re-employment, conversion and enhanced severance
- a genuine choice between an AWA and the collective agreement
- elected staff/union committees to implement and monitor the agreement; and
- retention of appeal/review committees.
The successful results of bargaining will enable university staff to weather the storm of attacks on their employment conditions from the Commonwealth government through the HEWRRs and the effects of WorkChoices.
For details on specific agreements visit http://www.nteu.org.au/rights/agreements/highered or your local Branch's webpage.
Further information:
| National Bargaining survey | NTEU is surveying university staff about employment issues, and now warmly invites you to have your say. |
| Bargaining Agent Authority | Appoint NTEU as your bargaining agent in relation to AWAs, Collective Agreements and other Industrial matters. |
| Summary of Round 4 outcomes (NTEU members only) | Tables summarising bargaining outcomes at Australian higher education institutions. |