18 August 2006

Enterprise Agreement 2006-2009

Dear Colleagues

I am pleased to advise that the University, staff and union representatives have concluded negotiations on the new Enterprise Agreement. The Agreement has been reviewed by officers from DEST and the Office of the Employment Advocate and their comments have been addressed in this final document.

Before the Agreement can be formally lodged with the Office of Employment Advocate, there are a number of formalities, which need to occur. Once the Agreement is signed by the University and the unions, a ballot process must be conducted to provide staff with the opportunity to vote on the Agreement.

It is a requirement of the Workplace Relations Act that the University make the Agreement available to staff for a period of 7 days prior to conducting the ballot. Relevant information on the Agreement can be found at the following website http://www.pers.mq.edu.au/enterprise/index.html It includes links to:

• the proposed agreement
• a How and When statement with ballot details
• an information statement from the Office of the Employment Advocate
  • PDF version: http://www.oea.gov.au/docs/employers/uca/ISE-CA-0406.pdf
  • MP3 version: http://www.oea.gov.au/docs/employers/eca/ISE-CA-0306_AUDIO.mp3

The ballot for approving the Agreement will be conducted by a show of hands at the meeting to be held on Monday 28 August at 12.30pm in the Atrium in the SAM building. In order to enter the meeting and participate in the ballot, staff will need to register as a current Macquarie staff member.

If the agreement is approved, as I hope it will be, it will be lodged with the Office of the Employment Advocate and will then come into effect. I encourage you to attend the ballot and to approve the Agreement.

Tim Sprague
Director, Human Resources