CQU EB update
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128, 25 August 2023, page no.10
Negotiations for a replacement agreement at Central Queensland University restarted in early July.
The resumption saw the university providing an improved financial position and a revised pay offer to union parties. The offer amounted to:
- 12 per cent to be paid to all staff over a four-year agreement, as follows:
- 3 per cent in September 2023
- 3 per cent in September 2024
- 3 per cent in September 2025
- 3 per cent in September 2026
- on top of the already implemented administrative increases for VET educators of:
- 3 per cent from 4 July 2022
- 1 per cent from 1 Jan 2023
- an additional up-front administrative adjustment to VET salaries to provide for parity with TAFE Queensland
- the commencement date to be the first fortnight following certification, currently estimated to be September
- the agreement to have a nominal end date of 30 June 2027.
The QTU TAFE Executive considered the offer, particularly as it applied to VET educators, positively and asked negotiators to negotiate for a winding back of the final two increases by one month, bringing the final pay increase back to 1 July 2026.
The TAFE Executive also gave instructions for negotiators to test the university’s appetite for negotiating a fifth increase, negotiated 12 months prior to the nominal end of the agreement and to be paid on the day before nominal expiry.
At the time of writing, negotiations continue. The QTU has not been officially informed as to the position of the National Tertiary Education Union regarding the revised offer, and no formal response has been made to the QTU’s counter offer by the university.
Stop Press
An updated offer was received as this Journal was going to print. TAFE Executive voted to put the new offer to a ballot, with a recommendation that members accept it. More information is available at - https://www.qtu.asn.au/18-August-cqu-newsflash