Umbrella agreement proposal

What is the umbrella agreement proposal? A draft copy is transcribed below:

1. The parties to this agreement are:

The Association of Staff in Tertiary Education; and
The Association of University Staff; and
The Public Service Association; and
The Vice Chancellor, University of Auckland; and
The Vice Chancellor, University of Waikato; and
The Vice Chancellor, Massey University; and
The Vice Chancellor, Victoria University of Wellington; and
The Vice Chancellor, University of Canterbury; and
The Vice Chancellor, Lincoln University; and
The Vice Chancellor, University of Otago; and
[other unions]

WHEREAS

2. The Unions have initiated bargaining for a multi employer collective agreement (MECA).

3. Negotiations have been conducted in an attempt to settle such an agreement.

4. A principal and unresolved issue between the parties is whether terms and conditions should be set by a MECA or by a series of single employer collective agreements (SECAs).

5. All parties wish to resolve the issues between them in this bargaining round by way of compromise, but in accordance with the following principles:

5.1. The principle of maintaining and further developing a University sector which is highly successful, innovative, well resourced and a place of choice for union members to work.

5.2. The principle of working together towards a common understanding of what is required to achieve the goal referred to at paragraph 5.1, including:

5.2.1. A common understanding of the role of universities as a group and as individual institutions within the sector.

5.2.2. A common understanding of the role of unions and union members in the sector.

5.2.3. A common understanding of the steps necessary to achieve appropriate salaries and conditions to ensure a sustainable and high quality workforce.

5.2.4. A common understanding of the role of Government both as funder and stakeholder in the sector.

5.3. The principle of quality jobs with fair remuneration for University staff.

5.4. The principle of high quality leadership practice that consults at all levels of the organisation.

6. During the course of the bargaining the Government established a University Tripartite Forum involving the Government, the Vice-Chancellors and the Unions to consider among other things issues that have arisen in bargaining.

IT IS AGREED

7. The Vice-Chancellors will work actively and co-operatively with each other and with the unions through the University Tripartite Forum:

7.1. To ensure that that the issue of competitive and fair salaries for all staff in all Universities is given a high priority in the Universities Tripartite Forum’s workplan.

7.2. To develop and implement an agreed sustainable solution to providing competitive and fair salaries for all staff in all Universities.

7.3.To implement outcomes from the Universities Tripartite Forum into collective agreements.

7.4. To develop solutions to other funding and resourcing issues facing Universities.

8. The Vice-Chancellors accept:

8.1. The unions are legitimate and important stakeholders and representatives of staff and accept they have rights and interests in decisions affecting members work and employment.

8.2. The Vice-Chancellors and unions have an interest in the unions being well organised and effective in the employment relationship.

8.3. They will encourage employers, managers and the unions to establish co-operative and open relationships, and to work together in ways consistent with this agreement.

8.4. They will support collective relationships, in keeping with the Employment Relations Act 2000.

9. The Unions and the Vice-Chancellors accept that the following principles will apply to the implementation of this agreement:

9.1. The principle of engagement, which will require active participation and dialogue between the Vice-Chancellors and unions.

9.2. The principle of good faith and respect for each other’s roles, which will require:

9.2.1. Neither the Vice-Chancellors nor the Unions will understate the others’ role.

9.2.2. Both the Vice-Chancellors and the Unions accept that their respective views on particular issues will sometimes diverge and that this should not compromise the overall agreement.

10 The parties will invite the Auckland University of Technology to participate in this agreement.