ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS

Inclusive Language in Enterprise Agreements

NTEU Branches must audit their Enterprise Agreement for binary language. If any binary language is used in their Agreements, they must work towards removing all binary langauge in the current or next bargaining round.

Approval of Enterprise Agreements

National Executive shall not approve an enterprise agreement that entails a diminution of existing conditions unless:

• The diminution of conditions of employment is part of a trade-off resulting in improved conditions overall; and
• Prior consultation has occurred with the National Office.

As part of overall bargaining strategy Branches will be encouraged to organise Protected Action Ballots, and to take industrial action. In considering the approval of agreements which involve trade-offs, National Executive will have regard to whether or not a Branch has engaged in industrial action, noting that this is a realistic expectation for all Branches.

ENTERPRISE BARGAINING

NTEU notes:

• Enterprise bargaining provides an opportunity for the Union to achieve wage outcomes for members that maintain and improve the real value of wages, and improved conditions of employment
• Enterprise bargaining also presents opportunities to improve Union strength.
• The maintenance of NTEU’s position as the industry union for tertiary education staff depends on it having a significant presence and capacity to bargain at all tertiary education institutions.
• The expansion of the number of university-controlled entities and private higher education providers and the generally poor regulation of employment conditions in these institutions.

NTEU believes:

• All staff in Australia’s tertiary institutions, whether public or private, should be entitled to collective representation through union-negotiated enterprise agreements.
• The interests of staff in Australian tertiary education institutions are best served through the negotiation of single-interest or multi-employer enterprise agreements, as this provides upward pressure on poorer conditions and salaries.
• Enterprise agreements should facilitate workplaces free from discrimination on any grounds including sex, race, LGBTI or queer-identifying status or (dis)ability.

NTEU will:

• Seek enterprise agreements so that every NTEU member is covered.
• Prioritise the negotiation of multi-employer and “single-business” bargaining where possible to ensure institution-associated companies, and like institutions (e.g. TAFE), are covered by a single enterprise agreement, even where conditions remain inconsistent.
• Work to improve wages and conditions through enterprise bargaining, and use bargaining as an opportunity to improve Union strength. 

• Work to ensure the good provisions that we have achieved in enterprise bargaining are actively implemented at every Branch, and afterwards evaluate their effectiveness.
• Work to ensure NTEU enterprise agreements use inclusive and appropriate language reflecting the rights of minorities.
• Maintain a data base containing and evaluating the wording of key clauses in collective agreements finalised by the NTEU for the purpose of continuous improvement. 

• Work to ensure gender balance on all NTEU bargaining teams.