Newcastle Uni agreement delivers strong work/life balance

General staff at the University of Newcastle have accepted a new enterprise agreement which delivers a 16.8% (18% cumulative) pay increase by 1 October 2006, 26 weeks paid parental leave and a range of work/life initiatives.

It was negotiated by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Liquor Hospitality & Miscellaneous Union (LHMU).

CPSU Senior Industrial Officer Andrew Holland said: "Our members support the agreement because it has a good balance of pay and conditions and delivers on the majority of the unions log of claims. We have ensured that general staff continue to enjoy the flexibility and family friendly focus we seek to deliver across the sector."

Mr Holland also said: "The agreement has been negotiated in good faith largely unencumbered by the Federal Government's unnecessary, unwarranted and unsuccessful attempt to intervene in the bargaining process"

The other main provisions of the agreement are:

• Two weeks paid partner leave and paid parental leave for fixed term employees
• Part-time work on return to work following parental leave
• Improved flexible work arrangements including part time and fractional work, job sharing and flex time
• 25 days per year (with 15 cumulative per year) paid Personal leave
• Enhanced managing change, redeployment and consultation provisions
• Reasonable hours provisions including limits on workloads, working hours and the right to refuse overtime
• Restrictions on outsourcing
• Conversion of long-term casual employees to ongoing employment after 12 months and an increase in the casual loading to 23%
• A comprehensive Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander employment clause