Enterprise Agreement

What is the Process and Timeline?

• The Flinders University Enterprise Agreement 2019 (the EA) nominally expires 30 June 2022. The current agreement will continue to operate until it is replaced
• Notice of Employee Representational Rights (NERR) was issued to all staff 28 March 2022
• Negotiations will commence early May 2022
• A dedicated EB email address eb@flinders.edu.au has been established as the primary channel for EB communications
• Details of major milestones will be provided to all staff, as they become available

Who will represent the staff in the negotiations with the University?

• All staff were notified by the University of the right to representation in bargaining, via email, on 28 March 2022. Where staff are a member of a union, their union will automatically be their bargaining representative for the negotiation process unless an alternative bargaining representative is nominated
• The opportunity for all staff to nominate an alternative representative was advised, via email, on 12 April 2022

What is good faith bargaining?

The University is committed to bargaining in good faith and to working cooperatively with our staff and your bargaining representatives to achieve the best outcome. Everyone involved in the bargaining process is required by the Fair Work Act to bargain in good faith, which means the University, unions and staff and their representatives must:

• attend, and participate in, meetings at reasonable times
• disclose relevant information (other than confidential or commercially sensitive information) in a timely manner
• respond to proposals made in a timely manner
• give genuine consideration to the proposals and give reasons for any responses to those proposals
• refrain from capricious or unfair conduct way that undermines freedom of association or collective bargaining
• recognise and bargain with the other bargaining representatives for the agreement

When will staff be able to vote for a new Agreement?

• At least seven days before voting for an agreement, staff will be given a copy of proposed agreement and additional information and materials to assist with the voting process.
• All staff who are covered by the current agreement and who will be covered by the new agreement are able to vote but are not obliged. The University encourages all staff to have their say throughout the process and to vote to ensure your voice is heard.

Keeping up to date

• The University will continue to communicate directly with staff and provide regular updates by email and via this EB website, throughout the bargaining process.
• You can email any comments and / or questions to eb@flinders.edu.au.

Update - 20 February 2023

Dear colleagues,

We’re pleased to provide an update on the progress being made on Enterprise Bargaining negotiations.

In the period since the last update, the University Bargaining Team have been engaged in productive and highly constructive discussions with Union representatives. 

We have made extensive progress on a range of areas, including organisational change, staff workloads, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment arrangements, academic freedom, casual conversion, casual academic pay and condition, gender affirmation leave and salary.

We anticipate that we will provide a further update on progress and next steps in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this process, please email eb@flinders.edu.au for response by the Workplace Relations Team.

Best regards,

University Negotiating Team

Update - 24 August 2022

The bargaining process is well underway, with the first eight bargaining meetings having now taken place. Meetings continue to be attended by representatives from the University, NTEU and CPSU.

Meetings have now moved from fortnightly to weekly, to focus and advance discussions. These discussions are progressing constructively on several key issues of priority for both the University and the Unions. To date, we have held constructive without prejudice discussions on the following matters:

• Workload
• Organizational Change
• Affirmative action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff \
• Superannuation
  
• Professional Development
  
• Gender Affirmation Leave
  
• Academic Freedom
• Industrial Arrangements
• Employment Arrangements
• Professional Staff Classification Descriptors
  
• Disciplinary Provisions

We will provide a further update on the above items once negotiations are more advanced.
Please email any questions or comments regarding this process to eb@flinders.edu.au for response by the Workplace Relations Team.
University Negotiating Team

University Negotiating Team

Update - 20 June 2022

We would like to provide staff with an update on the University’s enterprise bargaining negotiations.

The bargaining process is now underway, with the first four bargaining meetings having taken place. Meetings are attended by representatives from the University, NTEU and CPSU.

Regular meetings are scheduled to occur on a fortnightly basis. Updates will be provided as bargaining progresses.

Please email any questions or comments regarding this process to eb@flinders.edu.au for response by the Workplace Relations Team.

University Negotiating Team

Update - 25 May 2022

We would like to provide staff with an update on the University’s enterprise bargaining negotiations.

The first two bargaining meetings have now taken place (9 and 23 May 2022) attended by representatives from the University, NTEU and CPSU.  A set of enterprise bargaining protocols have been agreed to by all parties, as the basis for a constructive and positive bargaining process.

Further regular meetings are scheduled to occur on a fortnightly basis.  Updates will be provided as bargaining progresses.

Please email any questions or comments regarding this process to eb@flinders.edu.au for response by the Workplace Relations Team.

University Negotiating Team