Award changes
On 1 July the Fair Work Commission increased all rates in all awards by 2.5%, in line with the minimum wage decision.
Most members in the private college sector are employed under the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award, in which, for example, the Level 2 annual salary will increase to around $46,598, Level 5 to $50,409, Level 7 to $52,905, Level 10 to $57,219 and Level 12 to $60,189.
Casual daily rates can be calculated by taking the annual salary, dividing it by 261, and then applying the 25% casual loading by multiplying that figure by 1.25. Other awards will increase by similar amounts.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has a useful calculator to work out your particular pay rate, full rates can be found on both the Fair Work Commission and the IEU websites, and you can always contact your IEU Organiser for any further information.
Agreement making
Your Union continues to work away on enterprise agreements. Officers from the Union have been meeting with management at both Navitas English (formerly known as ACL) and UoW College (part of the University of Wollongong), and both negotiations are reaching the ‘pointy end’ of crunching competing demands.
At Navitas English, the Union has suggested (without prejudice which means we are not bound by it) that a settlement encompassing a reasonable salary increase, more flexibility in attendance requirements (the ‘off-site hour’ provisions), and protections for non teaching staff with the move to a new classifications structure.
At UoW College, most of the non salary matters have now been resolved to the satisfaction of both the IEU and the NTEU, and the final arm wrestling over salary is really all that remains. Both unions are hopeful that a final settlement can be reached over the next month or two.
The IEU will soon be commencing negotiations at several other colleges, including Access, EF, Insearch, Sydney College of English, Specialty, SELC, Universal, UNSW Foundation Studies, and UWS College.
If you are a member at any of these colleges, you should start thinking about what you would like to see included in your agreement, and also encouraging your colleagues to join the Union. It is no coincidence that the colleges with the best conditions are those with strong Union membership. If you are a member at a college without an enterprise agreement in place, you should be aware that the Fair Work Act contains provisions relating to ‘good faith bargaining’, under which an employer must start negotiations where it can be demonstrated that a majority of employees (or section of employees, such as teachers) wish for that to happen. For more information, contact the IEU.
Seminar
The proposed seminar for members in the private college sector set down for 18 May has had to be delayed, and will now be held on Monday, 28 September at 4pm. Further details will be provided closer to the time, but in the meantime, mark it in your diaries.
Contact: kendall@ieu.asn.au