Labour notes
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) have reached what they call a landmark agreement on pay and conditions for general staff at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Staff will receive a salary increase of over 20.5 per cent over three years. The agreement also provides for 20 weeks parental leave, paid partner leave of two weeks, and an improvement on job security, redundancy and redeployment provisions. CPSU UTS Branch President Alan Barnes said, "This has been one of the hardest rounds of enterprise bargaining because of the Federal Government's interference in the bargaining process last year.It has been through the efforts of the CPSU Union members at UTS that we have been able to achieve an outcome that will improve the work-life balance of all staff at UTS."* * * The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) in New South Wales will approach the Chief Inspector of Mines to conduct a statewide audit of underground working hours after five recent deaths. AWU state president Mick Madden said mining companies are openly flouting laws governing hours of working underground. Under state legislation there is a legal limit for working underground of a maximum of eight hours per day, 48 hours per week. Some miners particularly those on Australian Workplace Agreements, are routinely being asked to work more than 12 hours at a time. The AWU is also asking that prosecutions proceed if the audit finds that employers are breaking the law.* * * The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) has warned Brisbane's new Lord Mayor against attempts to sack Brisbane City Council workers in the wake of his election on March 27. QCU General Secretary Grace Grace said the comments made by Campbell Newman alluding to sackings within the council were of a concern to the union movement. "Mr Newman has said that any Council employee who will not work with him faces the sack. The Council's 7000 employees are a professional workforce and should not have this threat hanging over heads just because of a change in the position of Lord Mayor", Ms Grace said. "The union movement will not stand by and allow Mr Newman to unfairly sack any Council employee as current laws prohibit such discriminatory behaviour."