New Enterprise Agreement

The University has reached agreement with the National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) in relation to the terms of a new enterprise agreement (EBA) to replace our existing Academic, General and Centre for English Teaching Staff Agreements.

In order for the new EBA to be approved under the Fair Work Act 2009, it must be approved by a valid majority of staff whose employment it will cover. To ascertain whether staff approve the EBA we will be conducting a ballot of eligible staff. Continuing, fixed term and casual staff in the following categories are eligible to vote:

• Academic staff whose annual remuneration (including salary & loadings but not superannuation) is up to $217,307; and
• General staff and English Language Teaching staff whose annual remuneration (including salary & loadings but not superannuation) is up to $140,262.

If you are employed in one of the above categories you will be eligible to vote, irrespective of whether you are currently covered by an EBA or an AWA or an ITEA. However, if you have opted to remain covered by an AWA or ITEA, your individual agreement will continue to apply to your employment to the exclusion of the new EBA – voting in the EBA ballot will not affect the operation of your AWA or ITEA.

The EBA does not cover staff whose remuneration exceeds the above limits, the Vice-Chancellor, DVCs, Deans or staff at Seymour Centre and Sydney Conservatorium of Music employed under theatre award classifications, so staff in these categories are not eligible to vote.

The Fair Work Act 2009 also stipulates that staff be provided with seven days notice of the University’s intention to conduct the ballot, as well as providing staff with access to the new EBA and other relevant information.

The ballot will be conducted electronically, and will be open from 20 October to 5.00pm on 23 October 2009. A reminder e-mail will be sent on the 20th. Voting is voluntary.

The new agreement can be viewed at http://www.usyd.edu.au/hr/eb/documents/University_of_Sydney_Enterprise_Agreement_2009-2012_final.pdf and information about its terms and effect are available at http://www.usyd.edu.au/hr/eb/documents/EBA_summary.pdf. If you would like to post a comment or question about the new EBA, this can be done by going to http://www.usyd.edu.au/hr/eb/contact/eb_feedback_form.php.

Colin Streeter
Director, Human Resources