On 24 May 2021, we had our second enterprise agreement negotiation meeting with management. In our first two meetings, both the USU/ASU and the management team shared their Log of Claims and set out the changes each party is seeking from the negotiations. The USU/ASU Log of Claims can be downloaded with this bulletin here. 

These are early days of the negotiation and there will be many more discussions and arguments around the improvements we want to your Agreement, and the changes management wants. We have also asked management to provide us with a briefing of the expected financial results for the 2020/2021 financial year and the current staffing levels across the firm. Our next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 10 June 2021.

Keep an eye out as there will be USU/ASU members’ meetings to provide an update to members following the briefing from the firm.

Meanwhile, the USU/ASU is running a Workload Committee to consider workload issues, including introducing caps on file loads, Legal Assistant ratios, staffing levels and appropriate KPIs. All USU/ASU members are welcome to be part of this group – you do not need to be a member of the EA Committee to join the Workload Committee, and we would like representatives from all parts of the firm. If you are interested in joining, please speak to your organiser or one of the delegates in your office.

The USU/ASU will keep members informed of any major developments during the Enterprise Agreement negotiations.

Join the Union!

Now is the time to join the Union to ensure a fair Agreement is negotiated at Maurice Blackburn.

There is strength in numbers, and we have a better chance to secure a good deal for staff the more Members we have at the firm. Join now at: www.usu.org.au/join

If you have any questions please contact USU Organiser Thomas Gao 0417 420 924  or tgao@usu.org.au