New Agreement is a Great Outcome for VF Staff
Vicforests employees gave overwhelming endorsement to the new, extended and varied Vicforests Agreement in December's ballot with 96.94% of staff voting in favour of the new agreement.
 

Commissioner Smith of Fair Work Australia approved the extension and variation on New Years Eve, meaning that our new Agreement came into effect as of then.

Vicforests have since enacted the new provisions, including the retrospective salary increases.

This fantastic result was made possible by the strength and support of CPSU members at Vicforests, and the hard work of our delegates who sat through months of difficult negotiations.

Without this union presence, VF Management would have been able to bring in changes that would have seen a huge reduction in everyone's entitlements.

Instead, we have an Agreement that delivers the following:

- annual EBA increases of 3% for ALL staff, added to salary, including 2009 (retrospective)

- retention of progression for staff who are assessed as having met their requirements or better (rating 3 or above) equal to 2% p/a added to salary. This will continue to apply to the ‘overwhelming majority of
Grades 1 - 4.

- a 2%, one off sign on bonus not added to salary on agreement being reached.

- annual performance bonuses (not added to salary) of:

- 1% for rating 3,
- 2% for rating 4,
- 4% for rating 5, and
- 6% for rating 6.

Again, the ‘overwhelming majority of Grades 1 – 4 will receive this.

- adoption of the new improved fire and emergency provisions from our VPSA2009, including for prescribed
burns. These feature a Fire Line allowance of $10 P/H (up from $4.50), and Emergency Support allowance of $5P/H (up from $1.55).

- no cap on amount of sick leave that can be used for carer s leave.

- compassionate leave increased to three days per occasion.

- new Grandparent s leave clause.

- higher duties to be available where role is performed for 10 days or more, not 4 weeks as originally claimed (currently 5 days)

- monthly Pay to be implemented as of mid-January 2010.

This will be paid a fortnight in arrears and a fortnight in advance, so that during the transition phase, no-one is out of pocket. VicForests have also agreed to offer staff financial counselling and assistance in budgeting to help with the transition.

- employees of greater than three years service to provide four weeks notice on resignation. Importantly,
there would be no financial penalty in the event of failing to provide such notice, so the clause is
effectively neutral.

- employer to have ability to close down over Christmas/New year period, so long as employees rostered
for Fire Duty are exempted.

- ability to cash out excess annual leave, but only at the initiative of the employee.

Please distribute this bulletin and ask your colleagues to join CPSU to have their voice heard and views represented.

Our 7 day a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year industrial protection ensures you have the principal public sector organisation looking after your working rights, winning wage increases, protecting your conditions, and providing personal industrial assistance when you need it.


CPSU MEMBERSHIP IS PROTECTION FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. YOUR JOB.

Speak to a colleague today about the benefits of CPSU membership and have them contribute as well to our successes as well as being able to enjoy the benefits.


TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!

http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

22 January 2010