ANU - HR - SALARIES & CONDITIONS - ENTERPRISE BARGAINING

25 November 2008

Provisions

The proposed new Agreement will expire on 30 June 2009. The reasons for such a short “holding” agreement is so that the significant changes anticipated in Workplace Relations legislation, Commonwealth budget decisions and the state of the economy in 2009 can be considered when developing our next 3-year Agreement in 2009.
In addition, this will provide the opportunity to review the operation of the staff salary structures and to consider further changes that can enhance career pathways and development for our staff.

Salary Increase
(Clause 29)
Salary Scales
(Schedule 3)

4.5% Increase effective 27 November 2008.
A further increase from December 2009 to be negotiated in 2009 and incorporated into the next Agreement in light of Commonwealth budget decisions, financial markets, and other relevant factors.

Academic and General Staff Classification
(Schedule 3 and other clauses)

Some initial steps to the Academic and General staff classification structure:

Minimum entry level for continuing and fixed term academic staff holding a PhD to be increased from Level A6 to Level A8 where their PhD is relevant or required for the position;
Biennial (two of the current steps) increments for academic staff and general staff above ANUO 5 level from March 1 2009 as staff reach their increment anniversary date (refer to New Salary Structure transition tables).
During the life of this Agreement, the parties will review additional changes in consultation with staff that will enable the ANU to enhance career pathways and reward our staff. This will include:
* further consideration of the appropriate PhD entry level
* extending the application of biennial increments
* further review of employment conditions for sessional academic staff (marking and salary rates) Such additional changes to be introduced in March 2010.

Apprentices and trainees
(Clause 33)

Improved pay rates for apprentices and trainees and in particular adult apprentices and trainees.

Grant Funded Research Positions
(Clause 17)

Introduction of a new category of employment called Continuing (Contingent Funded) Employment. Position category to replace Research Fixed Term employment for those on second contract in excess of 12 month and all currently on such second contract (conversion).
New category would be considered the same as a continuing position except for redundancy provisions, with access to severance payment (same as for fixed term) if/when funding ceased. Contract will continue unless staff member advised otherwise.

Restoration of rights lost from HEWRRs and Workchoices
(various clauses)

The previous changes required by the previous Commonwealth Government as part of the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) for University funding have been reversed except where the University and unions have agreed otherwise.

Leave

Parental Leave
(clause 47)

Increased flexibility to assist with a staff member’s return to work following parental or adoption leave, with capacity to use additional 6 weeks to facilitate return to work or funding for career development up to child’s 2nd birthday. 2 weeks paid and one week unpaid partner parental leave.

Grandparent leave
(clause 48)

Up to 12 months unpaid grandparent leave to facilitate the care of grandchildren. Normally to be taken with other existing Annual and Long Service Leave accruals.

Purchased leave
(clause 45.8 and 45.9)

Additional flexible options for annual leave purchase.

Cashing out of annual and LSL leave
(clause 45.8 and 49.4)

Ability to cash out excess annual leave or LSL (in conjunction with taking part of excess).

Academic Recreation Leave
(clause 45.4-45.7)

Introduction of a new academic annual leave system to facilitate management of academic staff leave liability. This new process will be introduced in 2009.
Academics can take their annual leave entitlements at any agreed time provided that a leave application is made and approved on the system. If no application is made and approved to utilise the current year’s entitlement by December 1 of that year the academic will be rostered on annual leave from the first working day in January the following year (for the duration of the previous years entitlement).

Managing excess annual leave
(clause 45.3)

All staff may be required to take excess (normally over 40 days) within a 6-month period to ensure excess annual leave is eliminated.

Hospitality Staff

Hospitality staff at Halls of Residence will move to pay rates that apply to University House (with a salary maintenance provision) and a 38 hour week.

Other Conditions

Performance and career development
(clause 55)

A clearer and simpler performance and career development clause that is better aligned to current practice.

Managing underperformance and misconduct
(clauses 67-69)

A clearer and simpler performance and career development clause that is better aligned to current practice.

Review and appointment category
(clause 24)

A review process to ascertain if a staff member's appointment is in the correct staffing category of academic or general staff.

Environmental sustainability
(clause 11)

A provision to demonstrate commitment and partnership with staff to reduce ANU's carbon footprint

Improved flextime arrangements for general staff
(clause 40)

Clarification of flextime arrangements available to general staff (within operational requirements)

Shift rates for after hours library staff
(Schedule 5.29)

Increase in penalty rates

Public Holidays and University Closure
(clause 53)

Provision to substitute Family and Community Day Public Holiday when this falls in a normal teaching period (with appropriate notice)

Outside work
(clause 53)

New clause to provide mechanism for management of outside work undertaken by academic staff

Recovery of overpayment
(clause 38)

Incorporated current procedures for the recovery of overpayments made to staff

Casual/Sessional Employment

Casual Loading (clause 19.7)

Increase the current 23% loading to 25% for casual staff

Experience loading
(clause 32.3)
clause 31.2

A Teaching Experience payment (move to next increment level) for sessional academic staff
who meet specified criteria
Experience payment move to next increment level) for casual general staff who meet specified criteria

Definition of a 'lecture'

Clarification of what is a basic, developed and repeat lecture.

Access to facilities for sessional academic staff
(clause 19)

A statement of commitment to provide reasonable access to university facilities for sessional academic staff (library, email, working space etc).

Academic staff attendance at required staff meetings etc
(clause 20.1)

ANU agreed to payment for staff meetings and other related activities where sessional academics are required to attend

Marking
(Schedule 3.2.9)

Clarification of what constitutes contemporaneous marking.

60% limitation
(clause 20.3)

Retention of 60% engagement limitations

Assistance to obtain on-going employment
(clause 19.4)

Provision reinforcing ANU commitment to assist sessional and casual staff to obtain ongoing employment.