At the time Red Tape went to press, Enterprise Agreements for the University of Wollongong and Charles Sturt University were going to members to vote on.

“The vote is the result of months of bargaining,” said CPSU NSW Senior Industrial Officer Lisa Nelson.

The Charles Sturt Agreement stipulates three salary increases:

• a 4.5 per cent rise backdated to 13 October 2023, to be paid no later than 1 February 2024;
• a 3.2 per cent increase in October 2024;
• a 3 per cent boost in July 2025.

For continuing employees and fixed-term employees, the superannuation contribution paid by the university will be at the rate of 17 per cent.

The Agreement also includes 10 days’ Special Leave for issues such as taking custody of a foster child for whom the employee has parental responsibilities, union training or an employee who is a member of a First Nations community to prepare for or attend National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week functions.

There are also provisions for Gender Affirmation Leave and leave for any future pandemics.

The Wollongong Enterprise Agreement outlines a total of 15.5 per cent pay increases up to 2026.

There is also a right to disconnect written into the Agreement.

The Agreement covering members at Southern Cross University has been rejected because the National Tertiary Education Union sought to have casual members’ votes not counted. An appeal went to the full bench regarding the validity of the making of the Agreement.

When the decision was handed down in early November the Enterprise Agreement was revoked. The university has reissued the Notice of Employment Representation Rights, so negotiations will commence again soon.