The National Tertiary Education Union is involved in another drawn-out negotiation for an enterprise agreement – which isn’t unusual. What is, is that it’s at the union with NTEU leadership and staff going through the process.  NTEU workers, who are members of other unions, have voted to apply to the Fair Work Commission for a protected industrial action ballot.

Negotiations have been underway for a while. Back in November the union awarded staff a 1.8 per cent administrative pay-rise to compensate for a year without an increase, (CMM November 1 2018).

CMM hears management thinks a 1.85 per cent rise reflects realities in sector pay but observers suggest negotiators for staff want 2 per cent pa over the agreement. A range of workplace conditions is also in-dispute.

If the FWC approves a ballot and if members subsequently vote for industrial action work bans are likely. Unless of course terms are reached at a bargaining meeting before then.