SCU Branch eNews February 2008

This newsletter is divided into sections:

• Branch News
• University News
• Union News
• SCU branch contacts

Branch News

Call for CPSU Delegates
The SCU Branch AGM will be held in March/April this year. Delegate nominations forms will be posted to all members (further updates to come). We encourage all members to be active with your local branch. Being a CPSU delegate/activist is a highly rewarding and empowering role with the opportunity to understand how your work conditions are negotiated and won, access to excellent training and involvement with a dynamic collective community.

General Staff Classification Review
On 30 November 2007 representatives of the University circulated a position paper which dealt with the recommendations contained in Mr Geoff Baldwin's (consultant) Review of General Staff Classification Process document. As members would be aware, the CPSU sought your feedback on Mr Baldwin's review and recommendations and in May 2007 we provided the University with a formal submission outlining our stance.

At the JCF of 16 January 2008 management advised us that the matter will now progress to the executive for consideration and further consultation with the unions will follow. To ensure the classification process is transparent, thorough, fair and enforceable, the CPSU believes that classification should remain subject matter within the enterprise agreement.

University News

HEWRRs Gone
The CPSU forcefully relayed the view of general staff that the incoming Labor Government stop the Howard Government's tying of badly needed funding to AWAs that neither employers or staff wanted.

The minister responded positively to general staff concerns as conveyed by the CPSU. On 4 February 2008 the Minister announced HEWRRs will go, and the funding tied to the HEWRRs will be given unconditionally (see CPSU press release). This is a significant win for general staff and demonstrates what can be achieved with collective power.

Conditions stripped away from general staff collective agreements by HEWRRs, such as limitations on the use of fixed term and casual staff, can be restored through collective bargaining power in the next round of negotiations.

IR Transition Bill to greet Parliamentarians on their return
The federal Government's workplace relations Transition Bill will be introduced to Parliament the week of February 11. Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard confirmed that the Bill will:

• prevent the making of new Australian Workplace Agreements;
• create a new form of individual workplace agreement - the Interim Transitional Employment Agreement (ITEA) - to be available only for limited use during the transitional period;
• remove the previous Liberal government's Workplace Relations Fact Sheet requirements;
• put in place a new no-disadvantage test for new agreements. To pass the no-disadvantage test, collective agreements must not disadvantage employees when compared with the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard (the current Standard) and the relevant award. Similarly, ITEAs must not disadvantage employees when compared with an applicable collective agreement and the current Standard or, in the absence of such an agreement, the current Standard and the relevant award;
• enable the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to undertake the process of modernising industrial awards.

The CPSU advocated that the Work Place Productivity Program (WPP) must go. This program was set up to promote so called workplace reform, in other words the proliferation of AWAs and staff cuts. Jullia Gillard advised the Government will also make a formal announcement soon on the WPP.

Post the election the CPSU immediately wrote to all university Vice Chancellors seeking to meet and discuss the new IR environment in light of the vote against WorkChoices. The CPSU has now met with representatives of most universities.

Union News

Stop The Sell Off Campaign Update
The NSW Government is planning to hand over the state's electricity to big business - taking power out of our hands.

The experience in other states and overseas shows us private ownership leads to:

• higher prices
• less reliable supply
• key service jobs sent offshore

Your union is taking a major role in this campaign to fight off this attack which can potentially impact on fellow members jobs in the public sector power industry. Go to the Stop the Sell-Off campaign website for more info, to send Iemma a message, sign the petition etc.

SCU Branch of the CPSU

Industrial Officer: Thane Pearce
9220 0944/0408 223 276
tpearce@psa.asn.au