The Agreement
Negotiations continue to progress with both parties seeking to reach genuine agreement. To that end, the parties have reached in principle agreement on the following items:

  • Incentive payments: Once the Agreement has received the FWC rubber stamp, all redeployees will be offered the $75K incentive. Redeployees will have 3 weeks in which to accept the offer or not. Those who decline the offer will have the offer withdrawn and lose any entitlement to payment;
  • At 1 July 2020 a cap of 250 redeployees can be made forcibly redundant; it is at this date that the job protections period expires;
  • After 1 July 2020, a global cap of 250 per annum will apply to both voluntary and forced redundancies;
  • Consultation; and
  • Dispute Resolution.

The outstanding items remain:

  • CCR – There are concerns with regards to the proposal introducing pay discrepancies. The combined unions are working to ensure that, should CCR be included in the Agreement, it doesn’t introduce wage disparity.
  • Wages – Our position remains 3%. Ausgrid’s position remains 2.5%, 2.5%, 2% and a $1000 payment on agreement.

PAB
We have received confirmation from the FWC that we are able to proceed to conducting a Protected Action Ballot. It is important to know, though, that our strong preference is to reach a negotiated outcome, yet we are serious when it comes to satisfying the needs of our members with respect to achieving a just outcome in light of the fact they’ve gone 4 years without a pay increase

Important dates are:

Wednesday 6 December 2017 Roll of voters closes at 5pm AEDT.
Thursday 7 December 2017 Ballot opens – AEC posts ballot material to eligible voters
Monday 8 January 2018 Ballot Closes 10am AEDT. AEC counts ballot and declares the results to FWC and the parties as soon as practicable.
Friday 12 January 2018 Date by which the ballot is to be completed by (as contained in the FWC order)

It is obviously our preference to reach a negotiated outcome and the parties continue to work to achieve it. That said, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels and it is vitally important all union members not only vote, but vote in favour of taking Protected Industrial Action. A strong voter turn out and strong yes vote shows unity, sends a strong message to Ausgrid of that unity and enhances our ability to reach a negotiated outcome in the context of the Agreement being a package.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact your your Organisers Troy Dunne p: 0419 403 076 e: tdunne@usu.org.au or Paul Sansom on 0409 076 633 or psansom@usu.org.au