Universities Admission Centre bargaining

Executive, 25 August 2008, EX96/08

"That the Executive endorse the decision of members at UAC to reject the company's offer to pursue a claim of 5.5 per cent per annum over the life of a three year agreement."

The Universities Admissions Centre Collective Agreement expired in July 2008. This is a pre Work Choices agreement.

The parties commenced bargaining in early July 2008 on the basis that we would use the provisions of the Rudd Government's Transitional IR legislation (clause 2A of Schedule7) to vary and extend a pre reform agreement.

In doing so both parties agreed that neither would seek significant changes to the content of the agreement and focus on a good pay rise.

The company first made a pay offer of 4 per cent per year.

Union members rejected this offer citing, among other things, the rate of inflation (which was 4.5 per cent in the June quarter), the average annual wage increase for Australian workers on collective agreements (which was 4.3 per cent in the March Quarter), the fact that it was well below the average outcomes received in the last round (4.75 per cent), and the fact the company had a surplus of $1,152,263 for the year ending 30 June 2007.

Members endorsed a counter claim that would have effectively delivered a 6.5 per cent annual increase over the life of the agreement. This was rejected by the Company who counter offered with an effective offer of 4.5 per cent annual increase over the life of the agreement.

When members met last week there was unanimous endorsement for rejecting this offer and pursuing 5.5 per cent per annum over the life of a three year agreement.

We are now waiting for the company's response.