The NEAMI draft agreement has been issued by management and is subject to a ballot of staff from 4 October to 11 October 2012.
The offer is for a 3 year agreement with 3% pay increase in July each year.
All staff covered by the agreement will have the opportunity to vote on whether the enterprise agreement is acceptable or not. There are improvements but also areas of concern as follows:
Improvements
- Entitlement to representation. In employment matters by employee reps, including union delegates.
- Consultation. NEAMI is required to consult with employees when definite decision to make significant change in the workplace.
- Early morning work allowance. Where required to work 45 minutes or more between 6 am and 8 am to be paid an allowance of $40.00.
- Meal & first aid allowances. SCHCADS Award.
- Time of in lieu. TOIL accrued on weekends will be accrued at weekend penalty rates as set out in the agreement (1.65 x ordinary hourly rate), distinction made between TOIL and overtime, part time staff can accrue TOIL.
- Study leave. Employees can request study leave. Approval for study leave is at the discretion of management.
- Additional paid leave in special circumstances. Approval at the discretion of management.
- Temporary employment. Definition.
- Moving house. One additional paid leave day provided for moving house.
- New initiatives. Commitments that management will establish "further study scholarships", allocate a $300 wellbeing budget for each staff team and investigate the role of Senior/Advanced Worker within 6 months of the commencement of the Agreement.
Items of concern/reductions
- Dispute resolution. Unless agreed no arbitration power to allow Fair Work Australia (independent umpire) to arbitrate disputes.
- Wages and classifications. Whilst a 3% annual wage increase has been applied to each classification during the life of the agreement, the ASU is concerned that the nominal classifications that NEAMI has identified in the Modern Award (for comparison purposes to the NEAMI classification structure) are lower than what they should be. The ASU ran vigorous arguments during negotiations regarding this issue with no agreement from management reached. Members need to be aware that whilst current NEAMI wage rates are higher than the Award minimum rates, as equal pay increases continue to be applied to the Modern Award rates over the next 8 years, depending on the Modern Award classification applied, NEAMI rates could fall behind. The ASU argued for an inclusion of a safety net clause which was agreed to (12.4.2), but the issue of the appropriate classification is critical to ensure members do not fall behind. The ASU also believes the issue of under-classification devalues the work of NEAMI staff, in not recognising the appropriate skills, knowledge and qualifications.
- Redundancy pay. Previous EBA provided 16 weeks' pay for 9 years' service and over. Proposed agreement refers to the NES, which reduces pay out for 10 years' service and over to 12 weeks.
Please contact one of your local union reps if you have any further questions.