Staff Association and Executive bargaining representatives continue to make headway during enterprise agreement negotiations, with recent discussions concentrating on a key suite of workplace rights including flexible work arrangements.
The progress comes as negotiators from all sides wait for the conclusion of the Staff Association’s membership poll on Executive’s first pay offer, with the results set to define the future direction of the remuneration debate at CSIRO.
Staff Association members are being asked if Executive’s first pay offer – an 11.2 per cent over three years – is adequate or requires improvement.
The poll closes Friday 8pm (AEDT) 20 October and is open to union members only, all other employees must join the CSIRO Staff Association to participate.
Working from home (WFH) and flexible work rights are set for a major boost, with Executive prepared to adopt the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) model clause and acknowledge the Staff Association’s claim on the issue.
The model clause ensures that all applications for flexible work will be properly considered and builds in an assumption that applications will be accepted without a genuine reason to say no.
In addition to the removal of undue restrictions and restrictive approval processes, the new enterprise agreement (EA) content will codify the provision and supply of WFH resources.
Negotiations to improve staff engagement arrangements continue, following Executive’s important shift to accept union claims to introduce pre-decision consultation arrangements at CSIRO.
Executive have stated that they shared the Staff Association’s objective of establishing a consultative committee as one of the structural changes needed to support the introduction of pre-decision consultation, with further work to be done on the shape of that committee and its relationship with the existing consultative council.
Conditions for Staff Association delegates are poised to take a big step forward, with rights protecting the activities and resources available to union workplace representatives set to increase as CSIRO Executive proposing new EA content based on the APSC model clause.
Progress on ensuring confidentiality for those experiencing domestic and family violence has been made, with Executive bargaining representatives agreeing to incorporate a number of clauses proposed by the Staff Association aimed at boosting privacy rights.
Union and Executive representatives will meet away from the bargaining table for discussion on CSIRO’s Workplace Issues Resolution Procedure (WIRP) in a bid to fast-track future negotiations. The Staff Association believes that a fair, clear and improved outline of the process for affected workers needs to be included in the EA as the first part of any restructure for the WIRP procedure.
While parental leave and superannuation will be on the agenda for next Monday’s negotiation meeting, much of the bargaining focus in CSIRO will be on the release of the Staff Association’s pay poll results.
Our confidential online poll is designed to measure support for the pay proposal and provide direction for union bargaining representatives in future negotiations.
The poll is open until 8pm (AEDT) Friday 20 October 2023 and is open to all Staff Association members. Non-members must join the union to participate.
We’ve also produced a special resource on pay to assist members when considering CSIRO remuneration. Visit www.csirostaff.org.au/bargaining/pay for background and comparative information.
The poll results will be announced to coincide with the next CSIRO EA negotiation meeting on Monday 23 October.
Staff Association members with comments or suggestions are encouraged to contact the union by email, or speak to a workplace delegate or organiser.
Support our campaign to win improved workplace rights and conditions by joining the CSIRO Staff Association today.
Complete a secure, online membership application.
