ASU wins on paid maternity leave

This week has been an important week for the ASU's pursuit of paid maternity leave payments for members of the ASU. Two significant outcomes before the Federal and State Commissions have been achieved.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has endorsed an enterprise bargaining agreement between the ASU and the Catholic Universities, which saw ASU members achieve 12 weeks paid maternity leave and 40 weeks at around 70% of salary, for women eligible for maternity leave.

In the New South Wales State Industrial Relations Commission, a full bench of Judges and Commissioners rejected an application by the local government employers' body to have the ASU-MEU NSW Branch's Paid Maternity Leave Claim enlarged to allow all NSW employers to intervene. Clearly this tactic was to try to stop the Union's claim by allowing private sector, non-local government organisations to intervene: 'bosses' to stop payment to local government women.

Greg McLean Assistant National Secretary congratulated the Branch for their achievements, "The Union will continue to pursue paid maternity leave for local government members."