Water & Ports

Sydney Catchment Authority Award Negotiation and Restructure Update

Details

Published on Wednesday, 19 November, 2008

Following the recent members meetings to endorse our Award claims, the ASU, along with APESMA, have had several meetings with the SCA to negotiate your new Award. This includes a pay increase and other changes which are outlined below.

As the resolution passed at our ASU meetings stipulated, the Unions have clearly stated that they believe the current organisational review will provide sufficient cost efficiencies for the 4% pa pay rise that members are seeking.

The SCA have forwarded a joint presentation to Premiers & Treasury and a response is expected within two weeks. This presentation includes all of our claims and the ‘efficiencies’ that were endorsed at our union meetings. If the proposal is not agreed to by Premiers and Treasury, we will be talking to you about what direction we all want to take next.

The Restructure
During these meetings the ASU has acknowledged staff reductions may be planned in the organisational review. There has been no agreement whatsoever to accept any level of staff reduction. We will be holding union meetings and consulting with you throughout the process. Currently we have no concrete proposals as to what is being planned, and will keep you updated as we find out more.

The next meeting with management is the Joint Consultative Committee in mid December and we will let you know what comes out of that meeting. We will be ensuring that the SCA adheres to the principles laid out in the Award clause 58 in implementing any change.

The SCA sought expressions of interest for voluntary redundancy contrary to union advice. The ASU will be working with delegates and members to make sure that it is a fair and equitable process in implementing any staff changes.

The Claim
The claim that was endorsed by members and put to the SCA includes:

• 4% pay increase, backdated to 1 July 2008, 4% on 1 July 2009, 4% on 1 July 2010
• The Award to expire on 30 June 2011
• Changes to core hours and span of hours
• Improvements to Paternity leave provisions in the Award and policy
  

A full list of what the SCA have put on the table is available on our website www.asumembers.org.au. You will need your membership number to log in.

Contact your union delegates if you have any questions or concerns or call the ASU on 9310 4000

Click here for a full list of everything that SCA put on the table at the beginning of the negotiations.