8 June 2023
NTEU members at UniMelb vote to strike on Wednesday 21 June
Dear members,
Parental Leave Win
Yesterday, UniMelb management announced an incredible concession in the current round of bargaining negotiations, agreeing to key elements of the NTEU’s claim for improved parental leave.
Comparison of parental leave entitlements’ proposals
Current EA: cl 1.22
14 weeks’ paid leave after 12 months continuous service
24 weeks’ paid leave after five years’ continuous service
Do not apply to casual employees
NTEU’s proposed EA
14 weeks’ paid leave upon commencement of employment
26 weeks’ paid leave after 12 months’ continuous service
14 weeks’ paid leave after 12 weeks of continuous employment
UniMelb’s proposal emailed on 6 June 2023
26 weeks’ paid leave upon commencement of employment
Do not apply to casual employees
At the bargaining table, the NTEU negotiation team welcomed this proposal for meeting key elements of the NTEU’s claims and Unimelb management seeking to be sector-leading in terms of paid parental leave. At the same time, the team continued to advocate paid parental leave for casuals, highlighting enterprise agreements which provided such leave (such as the University of New South Wales enterprise agreement).
The movement at the bargaining table yesterday is a huge victory for NTEU members.
Back in November 2022, Unimelb management stated,
We do not accept [NTEU’s parental leave claim] that an employee can access 14 weeks’ paid parental leave from commencement of employment. Paid parental leave is a benefit by the University in excess of the NES in recognition of the employee’s service to the University.
Improved parental leave is one of the six widely and deeply-felt claims members took strike action for on Wednesday 3 May and organised strike action for on Wednesday 24 May.
Strike: 21 June
This progress at the table is welcome. However, University management has still not moved substantially on the following claims:
A members meeting last week resolved that if management did not agree on the above claims by 5pm Thursday 15 June 2023, members will stop work for 24 hours on 21 June 2023.
Meet at 10am on 21 June 2023 at the Amphitheatre in the New Student Precinct at the Parkville Campus.
Management misrepresenting NTEU claims
Last Friday, Pip Nicholson emailed all staff reiterating some of Unimelb management’s positions, and making several statements about negotiations with the NTEU.
Disappointingly, Professor Nicholson misrepresented NTEU’s claim for secure work, stating:
‘The NTEU clarified that its proposed secure work provisions apply only to academic positions.’
This is false. NTEU’s secure work target applies to all staff.
Preparing a Good Faith Bargaining Order Application
NTEU sent a letter to management [link to letter] seeking a correction of the record by 5pm yesterday. No correction has been made.
Therefore, the branch office is preparing to apply to the Fair Work Commission for a Good Faith Bargaining Order.
In union,