Collective Bargaining Meeting

At a members' meeting led today by AUS industrial officer Marty Braithwaite, the following points were among those raised concerning this year's national bargaining:


Bargaining Recommendation 2006

• Initiate multi-employer bargaining


• National claims similar to 2005 (salary and some generic issues)


• Local claims to address issues in local schedules

Process & Timetable

• Membership ballot (postal, closes late February)


• Claims development proceeding--form uncertain until ballot result known


• Formal initiation of bargaining by 20 March


• Further meetings to endorse claims, negotiating team and ratification process late March


• Expect to start bargaining last week of March or first week of April

Members will shortly receive their postal ballot forms. It is a requirement of the Employment Relations Act that members be balloted on their support for MECA bargaining, where a MECA is not in existence. (The universities have the Umbrella Agreement, not a MECA).

A high member participation in the ballot will indicated a high level of support for the bargaining process; members are encouraged to participate!