Human Resources

WORKING TOGETHER
Chronology of Enterprise Bargaining Negotiations

Date Event
30th May 2008 The NTEU sent the Vice-Chancellor the NTEU’s Log of Claims (.pdf)
28th July 2008 to 19th August 2008 Correspondence was exchanged between the NTEU and the University establishing the parameters of bargaining. The parties agreed to negotiate each Part of the Enterprise Agreement in turn.
26th August 2008 First negotiation meeting held. A proposed meeting schedule of fortnightly meetings was tabled and agreed to.
29th August 2008 The NTEU sent the Vice-Chancellor a Notice of Initiation of Bargaining Period (.pdf)
31st August 2008 Nominal Expiry date of University of Melbourne Enterprise Agreement 2006 (.pdf). The terms and conditions of this Agreement will continue to apply until a new agreement is negotiated.
26th August 2008 to 24th October 2008 The NTEU and the University bargaining representatives met fortnightly - exchanging draft clauses on each Part and working towards agreement.
24th October 2008 The NTEU proposed a new approach to bargaining involving an intensive “Heads of Agreement” approach.
31st October 2008 The NTEU sent the University the NTEU’s Proposed Heads of Agreement (.pdf).
19th November 2008 Peter McPhee, Acting Vice-Chancellor, sent an email to staff advising on the progress of enterprise bargaining.
30th November 2008 The University sent the NTEU the University’s Proposed Heads of Agreement (.pdf)
1st December 2008 First meeting held for a “Heads of Agreement” approach to bargaining. This “intensive” approach would involve meetings between small teams of bargaining representatives from both sides.
1st December 2008 Nigel Waugh, Vice-Principal (Human Resources), sent an email to staff advising of the new approach to bargaining.
1st December 2008 to 18th December 2008 The NTEU and the University’s small bargaining teams met twice weekly to intensively negotiate both parties? Heads of Agreement.
14th January 2009 Nigel Waugh, Vice-Principal (Human Resources), sent an email to staff advising on the encouraging progress of the intensive negotiations on a Heads of Agreement approach.
29th January 2009 The NTEU and the University met. It was the University?s understanding that the parties agreed to temporarily cease bargaining (based on the uncertainty of the University’s financial situation) until after the announcement of the Federal Budget.
3rd March 2009 Mitchell Bown, Acting Vice-Principal (Human Resources), emailed staff announcing that the parties had agreed to suspend bargaining until after the Federal Budget.
4th March 2009 NTEU members meeting held to discuss the NTEU’s position on enterprise bargaining. The NTEU requested that the University return to the bargaining table.
17th March 2009 Nigel Waugh, Vice-Principal (Human Resources), wrote to Grahame McCulloch, General Secretary (National Branch, NTEU), proposing that:
  • bargaining recommence on week commencing 23rd March 2009;
  • discussions focus on clarifying and elaborating the various non-salaries matters set out in the Heads of Agreement tabled late 2008; and
  • financial matters would be discussed after the Federal Budget.
18th March 2009 NTEU members meeting held to discuss the status of enterprise bargaining.
  Through correspondence between the NTEU and the University, meetings were scheduled for 31st March 2009 and 7th April 2009.
23rd March 2009 The Vice-Chancellor emailed staff advising of the University?s financial position.
30th March 2009 David Percival, Chief Financial Officer, provided a financial briefing to the NTEU on the University’s financial position.
31st March 2009 The NTEU emailed Nigel Waugh a “Redrafted” and Revised Heads of Agreement .The “redrafted” Heads of Agreement contained a number of new claims.?
31st March 2009 First meeting under the new Redrafted Heads of Agreement approach held. The NTEU ran through their new claims.
7th April 2009 Second meeting under the new approach held. The University:
  • agreed that the NTEU’s new set of claims would serve as the basis for ongoing negotiation and sought clarification on some of the NTEU’s new claims;
  • proposed a schedule for ongoing meetings; and
  • suggested that the Heads of Agreement approach is not working and proposed an approach that goes straight to the detail.
The NTEU:
  • indicated that there was unsatisfactory progress in negotiations;
  • informed the University that they would be recommending that their members approve a protected action ballot with a view to potentially taking industrial action.
8th April 2009 NTEU members meeting held. Members voted in favour of pursuing a protected action ballot.
23rd April 2009 At a hearing of Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the NTEU was given permission to conduct a protected action ballot
24th April 2009 Nigel Waugh, Vice-Principal (Human Resources), emailed staff advising of the protected action ballot and the University’s response to this threat of industrial action.
15th May 2009

The University received a Declaration of Results from the Australian Electoral Commission declaring that the NTEU’s protected action ballot had been successful.

The University also received a Notice of Industrial Action from the NTEU advising that its members would be engaging in a 24-hours work stoppage on 21st May 2009.
21st May 2009

Industrial action (ie. 24-hour work stoppage, picket lines and a rally) was taken by the NTEU at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology.
29th May 2009

The Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Principal (Human Resources) met with representatives of the NTEU. The Vice Chancellor restated the University’s consistent position that it is willing to negotiate a new enterprise agreement.
2nd June 2009 The Vice-Principal (Human Resources) emailed all staff to advise that the parties are resuming negotiations.
5th June 2009 The University received a Notice of Industrial Action from the NTEU advising that the NTEU will be taking industrial action in the form of partial work bans (commencing 12th June 2009) and a four-hour work stoppage on Monday, 15th June 2009.
10th June 2009 The Vice-Principal (Human Resources) emailed all staff to advise of the University's response to the NTEU’s proposed industrial action.
19th June 2009 The NTEU advised that it was lifting its work bans. The University agreed to return to the bargaining table to continue negotiations towards a new agreement.
25th June 2009 The NTEU and the University returned to the bargaining table.
9th July 2009

Enterprise Bargaining meetings held on 9th July, 23rd July, 30th July, 6th August and 20th August.
22nd July 2009 The Vice Chancellor received the NTEU’s Supplementary Log of Claims (.pdf).

3rd August 2009

As requested by the NTEU, the University provided a written statement (.pdf) on the University’s position on some of the NTEU’s key claims.

5th August 2009

The University received a Notice of Industrial Action (.pdf) from the NTEU advising that the NTEU will be taking industrial action in the form of four-hour work stoppages on Tuesday 11th August, Thursday 3rd September and 24 hour stoppages on Wednesday 16th September.
1st September 2009 The University received a Notice of Industrial Action (.pdf) from the NTEU cancelling the 4 hour work stoppage on the 3rd September and advising that the NTEU will be taking industrial action in the form of an indefinite stoppage of work from 3pm on Monday 7th September.
7th September 2009

The NTEU commenced its indefinite work stoppage at 3pm, including a protest outside University Council.

The NTEU notified the University that it had called off the indefinite work stoppage at 5pm on that same day
10th September 2009 The parties exchanged their final draft clauses at an enterprise bargaining meeting.
16th September 2009 The NTEU engaged in a 24-hour work stoppage across a number of Australian universities, including picket lines at the gates of the University and a rally through the CBD.
22nd September 2009

The University presented the NTEU with a comprehensive proposal for a new enterprise agreement (.pdf). The Vice-Principal & Head of University Services emailed all staff advising of the University’s proposal.
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