University of Western Sydney bargaining update

At our last Enterprise Bargaining Negotiation meeting held in December, the University declared their offer of a pay rise to be 16% over 4 years.

The first instalment has already been paid via your interim pay rise of 2% in December (backdated to October) and 2% paid in your first pay period in January.

We met with CPSU members via videolink last Thursday, January 29, to discuss whether members felt the offer was fair and whether or not we should accept the offer.

As a result of this discussion the following motion was unanimously endorsed by all in attendance.

"This meeting of CPSU members notes that the University's pay offer of 16% over 4 years falls way short of our claim of 24% over 3 years plus $2,000 flat rate, falls short of industry standards and will fail to keep UWS pay scales competitive with the rest of the sector.

Furthermore this meeting notes that:

• the Vice Chancellor's pay rise in 2002 was 24% which does equal the CPSU claim; and
• the offer does not give general staff the recognition we deserve for the patience, hardwork and goodwill we demonstrated toward management during the time of significant change and staff cutbacks over the life of the current agreement.

Consequently this meeting rejects the pay offer and urges the university to reconsider its offer to General Staff. Should the university refuse to reconsider the offer this meeting directs the CPSU Branch Committee to develop a campaign of demonstrative and industrial actions for consideration and endorsement by CPSU member at our next meeting on February 10th, 2004"

We urge all members to attend our next video conference meeting on 12.30 February 10, to discuss this important matter.

To ensure you are informed about the negotiations please ensure you attend our meetings.

Meeting dates for the first half of 2004 are:
February 10, 12.30 pm;
March 9, 12.30 pm,
April 6, 12.30 pm,
May 4, 12.30 pm,
June 1, 12.30 pm.