Tis the season to be jolly

The enterprise agreement at Charles Sturt U officially expired in September and bargaining should be beginning but newish VC Renée Leon wants a 12-month delay. This, she says will give her time “to engage with staff and unions” over the new university strategy which management is now “building out.”

To compensate for a delay in striking new terms, management is offering a 2 per cent pay rise as of July (presumably what management would have offered for the first year of a new agreement).

But CSU can’t just do this – as a variation on the existing agreement the university needs staff approval. Which management is asking staff to consider and vote on – quickly.  The VC is holding briefings today and Monday, with a vote Thursday-Friday next.

And to encourage agreement the university promises a $1000 payment to all eligible staff if the delay in beginning bargaining is carried by staff voting. Yes, management can do this – a learned reader versed in the Fair Work Act says as it is not an election the offer is ok.

And no, this is not the $1000 bonus Professor Leon announced for staff last week (CMM December 3), as thanks for working hard in a tough year. So, if the vote is carried CSU staff will have $1000 in each of their Christmas stockings.