Ninety-eight per cent of Professional Staff at the University of NSW (UNSW) voted yes to the new Enterprise Agreement negotiated for them by the CPSU NSW.

Staff will get a 6 per cent pay increase in the first year, followed by respective increases of 3.5, 3.5 and 4 per cent in the subsequent three years.

The CPSU NSW has negotiated a separate Enterprise Agreement for Professional Staff, which will ensure Academics do not vote on and determine Professional Staff entitlements.

There have been improvements to workplace change with recognition of redundancy as a last resort, and salary maintenance for 12 months where a displaced Professional Staff employee is placed into a lower-paid job.

There is also improved onus on the university to disseminate information on available jobs to displaced staff.

As the nation gears up to the vote on the Voice, the Enterprise Agreement includes the option to take an alternative day’s leave instead of Australia Day.

Limitations on Carers’ Leave have been removed and there is a new clause on the Right to Disconnect.

Professional Staff at the University of New England will also get their own Agreement, separate from academics.