SACS: Social & Community Services

Down to business at the BoysTown bargaining table

By the ASU - the social and community services industry union

Negotiations got under way in the second round of bargaining at BoysTown. The first meeting saw your claims presented and explanations given on the detail of the claims. The second meeting has seen the ASU and management start to work through the claims and seek to find agreement.

How long does making an agreement take?

There is a long bargaining history at BoysTown and for Counsellors who have an old agreement, this step has been a long time coming.

The ASU and management are committed to working as quickly as possible to develop this first agreement for the whole organisation. This means that there are a number of issues such as the amalgamation of a number of Awards to be considered. Most of these Awards are currently apart of the federal government award modernisation process.

The Asu and BoysTown are yet to commence on the detail of how these Awards will be considered through a new classification structure. The ASU will be putting to management ways that your agreement can proceed and still ensure that you will be classified and paid at above Award rates regardless of the outcome of the award modernisation process.

Your Claims and BoysTown response

A = agreed
? = under consideration
X = no

• All AWA, ITEA and individual contract staff be given the opportunity to early termination of their agreements and be covered by the collective agreement. A
• R.D.O system to be available for all operationally suitable staff. ?
• All overtime must be paid according to the relevant Award rates. A
• Annual shutdown provisions. ?
• Partial payout of sick leave on redundancy X
• Increased parking allocations for all staff. ?
• Paid Cultural leave. ?
• Paid Community Leave. A
• Wage increase of 5% per year of the agreement. ?
• Wage increase to be paid from 1 July 2009 ?
• All allowances to be increased by CPI or the agreed wage increase whichever is the greater. A
• Purchased leave arrangements. ?
• Call centre incentives to be reviewed. ?
• Leave loading to apply to all staff. A
• Salary sacrifice to be available for all staff. A
• One agreement for all staff. A
• Increased annual leave to recognise length of service. X
• Superannuation increases to recognise length of service. ?
• Secondments - internal and external.?
• Recognition for staff at the top of band levels. ?
• Paid Parental Leave Scheme - 18 weeks for primary carers and 4 weeks paid for secondary carers. 'Top up" of ordinary time rates, accrual of all leaves and paid superannuation for employees accessing the federal government paid parental scheme on its commencement. ?
• All relevant award conditions not improved through bargaining to be protected. ?
• No employee to be worse off. A
• All relevant expired agreement provisions not improved through bargaining to be protected. A
• All hourly rates affected by ITEA's or AWA's to be restored to relevant Award prior to receiving the agreed wage increase. A
• Rostered time for case notes and other non contact counselling duties. ?
• All rosters to ensure employees have 2 consecutive days off in each 7 days. ?
• Recognition of post graduate qualifications for progression through pay points. ?
• Increase employer superannuation contributions to 15% ?
• Higher duties to be paid for a minimum of 4 hours worked at the higher rate. BoysTown seeking higher duties paid after 5 days.
• Improve site security including parking for counsellors. ?
• Provisions of confidential employer funded counselling and professional supervisory scheme. A
• Workcover payments to be 'topped up' to full ordinary rates. ?
• Christmas and Boxing Day to be paid public holiday rates regardless of the day on which they fall. ?
• 5 days per year paid study leave. ?
• 5 days per year paid attendance at examinations related to study leave. ?
• Assistance with fees and study costs in study related to work. ?
• Long Service Leave - one set of conditions for all States and BoysTown have agreed to pay Long Service leave pro rata after 5 years service. A

Questions

If you have any issues you wish raised or you would like to be involved contact your local ASU Organiser listed below.

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