Survey of Relationships Australia Employees

The ASU has been conducting meetings and surveying both members and non-members to develop a log of claims to present to relationships Australia management. This process is nearly complete with a deadline for the return of Survey’s extended to 22nd June 2009 to ensure as many as possible are returned from as wide a variety of employees as possible.

The survey is the key document for developing the log of claims that will be presented to management. This will form the entire claim being made on behalf of ASU members and staff. The log of claims will be voted on by ASU members, to have your say in this vote join the ASU.

It is therefore very important that you complete and return the survey. You can either post or fax it directly back to the ASU office or hand it to your JCC rep for return to the ASU Office.

Your Representatives Elected
Your ASU Delegates and the JCC staff representatives today held a teleconference to finalise its approach to the Enterprise Agreement process. It was agreed that 4 representatives, all ASU delegates, will form the ASU/Staff side of the negotiating committee with alternate members nominated in case of absences. The basis of nomination was the ability, skills and experience relevant to be involved in the negotiation of the enterprise agreement.

Nominations were received and no vote was required as the number of nominees equalled the number of positions. The nominees include employees from Admin and Clinical areas, metropolitan and regional areas. The following people will comprise your side the negotiating committee:

Negotiators:     
Faith Christie (Parramatta – Clinical)Ester Scholem (North Ryde – Admin)  
Sue Collett (Westmead – Admin) 
Chris Hardwick (Hunter – Clinical)
Kate Lee (ASU Assistant Secretary)
Harvey Purse (ASU Organiser)

Alternates:
Ron Simpson (Penrith – Clinical)
Susan Elvery (Sydney – Clinical)
Lorraine Earl (Lane Cove – Clinical)

Negotiators and the JCC will undertake specialist training provided by the ASU about negotiating under the new Federal system.

In coming to this decision the JCC staff representatives took into account the need for a tight well skilled group to do the actual negotiations. It was agreed to that provisions be established for two way feedback and direct input from worksites. This should ensure that everyone has a say and input into the negotiations and outcomes.

A representative is being identified in each worksite to act as a conduit for the negotiations and as support for the JCC and EA Committee members. A complete listing of the wider group of staff JCC Nominees and ASU representatives will be made available in the coming fortnight.

The process your JCC representatives have decided upon requires that the negotiating committee will have a reporting hook-up with the wider group representing all worksites within 48 hours of a meeting. The report back will seek the advice and input of the wider group and ask for feedback directly from worksites.

Local representatives will then talk to those at that worksite. This will be an important point for you to get involved in providing feedback. Prior to the subsequent meeting of the EA Committee a further hook-up will occur to obtain the feedback from each worksite and guidance on any proposals.

Next Steps
The next step is for the JCC to finalise the make-up of the EA negotiating Committee, timelines, chairperson and process. The next JCC meeting is scheduled for 2nd July 2009. We will propose at the JCC (and expect) that the negotiating committee will meet two weeks later.

During the two week period between the JCC and the first EA Committee meeting the ASU will call on ASU members to vote to endorse the Log of Claims developed out of the survey. To have your say through a vote in this important step you will need to join the ASU.

Throughout the negotiating process the ASU will seek feedback and input through the delegates and contact’s network already outlined. Bulletins will be emailed on a regular basis to ASU Members. To receive these important emailed bulletins you will need to join the ASU.

At the conclusion of the process the ASU will call upon ASU members to vote on the final enterprise agreement. This vote, open only to ASU members, will bind the ASU to either accept or reject the Enterprise Agreement and form the ASU’s position at the subsequent all staff vote. To vote you will have to be a member of the ASU.

What do we need to do?
1 Attend and get involved in the meetings that will be held in your worksite.

2 Complete the survey when it is distributed and return it by 22nd June 2009.

3 Join the ASU and become a member to ensure you have your say at all stages of the process – forms are available on-line or form your local ASU delegate/contact