Recovery Budget update

A message from the Chief Operating Officer Dr Stephen Weller:

I wish to advise you of an update about varying the enterprise agreement, and planning for a new enterprise agreement.

After careful consideration, the university will not proceed to vary the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021. 

What does this mean for staff? If you are covered by the enterprise agreement you will receive the 2 per cent increase in July 2021, annual leave loading will be paid in 2021, and the three days of university holidays with the annual Christmas closedown will continue in 2021.

There are two reasons why the university reached this decision. First, the financial impact on the university does not meet the thresholds of total revenue reduction to satisfy the requirements under the Jobs Protection Framework agreed between AHEIA and the NTEU. Second, the current enterprise agreement has an expiry date of 30 June 2021.

Planning is underway for a new enterprise agreement. However, our existing enterprise agreement continues in force until we agree to a new enterprise agreement with staff and union parties. The enterprise agreement provides that the parties will commence negotiations for a new enterprise agreement three months before it expires; that is, 30 March 2021. The university has written to our union parties inviting them to meet before the end of March 2021 to discuss the arrangements for bargaining. 

There are a number of formal requirements associated with bargaining for a new enterprise agreement and more information will be provided before the end of this month.

Best wishes,

Stephen