CPSU representatives have been meeting regularly with Arts Centre management to discuss the next salary increase and options for our Enterprise Development Agreement (EDA).

The current EDA provides the option of extending the Agreement for a further twelve months past the nominal expiry date of 28 July 2008 which would include a 3% salary increase payable on 22 December 2007.

The Arts Centre’s Preferred Option:

Staff should have received an ‘Options” paper from Arts Centre management setting out the options as they see them.

The Arts Centre management’s preferred option is ‘Option 4’ which is:
‘Take up the optional year in EDA 2004, moving the nominal expiry date to 28 July 2009, then develop a successor agreement by 28 December 2008 (seven months ahead of the nominal expiry date), thereby closing the gap between the remuneration adjustment date and the expiry date of EDA 2004.”

If this option is followed there will be a 12 month period between July 2008 and July 2009 in which the EDA will not be legally enforceable in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (as a result of the Federal Government’s Work Choices legislation) and in order to protect staff conditions a Common Law Deed will need to be agreed between the Unions and the Arts Centre.

CPSU’s Alternative Proposal:

CPSU has put an alternative proposal to Arts Centre management as follows:

Agree to a new EDA that includes the same conditions as the current EDA with a 3.25% salary increase payable in December 2007 and an agreement expiry date of December 2008.

CPSU believes this is an attractive option because it provides a salary increase in line with the State Government’s wages policy of 3.25% per annum, allows a 12 month period in which to negotiate a more comprehensive successor EDA with improved pay and conditions, and resolves the 6 month time delay for salary increases which is due to the Government’s delay in approving the current EDA.

CPSU's option has been rejected by the Arts Centre Trust on the basis they see nothing in it for themselves and because Industrial Relations Victoria has advised them the 3.25% salary increase would be subject to a new Treasury and Finance approval process.

VACT argues this might delay a pay increase although it is worth noting Treasury has already approved the 3% increase (for an extension of the EDA to July 2009) which leaves just the 0.25% to demonstrate further productivity savings.

What Happens From Here?

CPSU Industrial Officer Andrew Capp met with administration staff last week to update them on these options and seek views about this issue.

CPSU will call a meeting of members within the next three weeks to determine the union’s position.

Until then, CPSU will be holding talks with the other parties to the EDA with the intention of getting the best deal for Arts Centre staff.

CPSU will keep members informed of any developments and members can contact CPSU Industrial Officer Andrew Capp on 9667 1823 or email him (click in his name)

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TOGETHER WE DO BETTER.


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

Tuesday, 7 August 2007