The ASU is pleased to announce that drafting of your Enterprise Agreement is now complete. The drafting process was complex and both parties worked hard to ensure agreed entitlements were delivered.
The following aspects proved difficult but have now been resolved to the Unions satisfaction,
- Provision of Government standard redundancy entitlements. These entitlements exceed those provided at SMCT previously.
- Making sure that in considering a change to Non-Flexi employees rostered hours, the relevant employees’ circumstances are genuinely considered when deciding whether or not to implement the change.
- That RDO’s should not occur on a weekend
- That classifications are provided on payslips and, that we initiate review of the pay-scale within the first year of the Agreement
- Consultation about changes to work arrangements during inclement weather
- That existing employees cannot ‘agree’ to become Flexi staff unless by formal individual flexibility arrangement and which ensure the employee is better off for having made the change
- Notice periods for rostering, change of rosters and change of starting point
- Commitment to assess the implementation of Domestic Violence Leave
- Provision of paid Union training leave and operation of the consultative committee
A good outcome for SMCT employees
The ASU is pleased with the outcome overall. We have managed to hold onto existing entitlements, make gains in a number of areas and substantially claw back penalty rates for a large number of employees.
In light of recent news reports which have suggested that annual pay increases across all industries are now at a 20 year low (of only 2.2% per year), we are also pleased with the wage outcome.
What happens next?
The final document is now with the Department of Health for approval by the Minister. Once this happens, it will be returned to SMCT and the seven day official notification period will begin. At the beginning of the notification period employees will be told about the opportunity to vote on the Agreement including when and how the vote is to take place. For the remainder of the notification period employees will be provided access to the Agreement, to enable them to review and consider it.
Following the seven day Notification Period, employees will be provided an opportunity to vote. The vote will probably take place over two days.
Assuming the Agreement is voted up by employees it then goes to the Fair Work Commission for approval. The Fair Work Commission process usually takes about two weeks. The Agreement will be in force one week after commission approval.
In sum, and depending on the Department of Health, we should have the new agreement up and running in about 5 weeks.
Should you have any concerns or queries or seek information about joining the ASU, please don’t hesitate to call ASU Organiser for SMCT, Andy Lewis on 0409 778 890.
