Decision time at Questacon

EA negotiations with Questacon have reached a stalemate. Management rejected our reasonable settlement proposal that sought to achieve a timely outcome which would go some way to addressing your concerns. We need you to come to our all staff meetings next week and vote in a union ballot to determine whether we endorse the offer or commit to an escalated campaign. At this stage, your bargaining team cannot recommend the current package.

You can see our letter to the Director here.

What’s in the offer?

The good

• Guaranteed 15.4% superannuation regardless of choice of fund
• Healthy lifestyle reimbursement of up to $150
• Improved support for parents - vacation child care subsidy increased to $22 per child per day and provision of car park for women in their third trimester
• Salary advancement brought forward to July from September
• Early commencement to provide for maximum possible pay rise under Government policy which effectively caps pay rises according to agreement length. For a 14 month agreement this would be 3.5%

The bad

• Does not remove junior rates based on satisfactory performance
• No further action to address the financial disadvantage of Questacon staff
• Does not provide for a joint review to ensure appropriate classifications
• Does not provide for allowances for clothing or footwear
• Does not improve travel allowances for Outreach staff
• Erodes existing conditions including qualifying period for temporary assignment of duties payment and eyesight subsidy.

The ugly

• Does not provide for genuine consultation before decisions are made. Your bargaining team understood that this had been agreed. Questacon is considering their position.
• An administrative change for the purpose of DIISR alignment threatens women’s super when on unpaid maternity leave. Questacon has thus far refused to fix this as FWO and ABS have done. They both agreed with CPSU that women on unpaid maternity leave should continue to receive their super entitlement. More information here

Did you know?

CPSU data shows that, at 31 December 2009, Questacon pay rates were between 6.6 and 10.0% behind APS averages.

What happens now is up to you

Do you endorse the current package or are you prepared to commit to an escalated campaign? Your union team needs to know what you think so we can determine what happens next. It is not enough to just say NO without being prepared to support your bargaining team. You also need to be aware of the costs and consequences of continuing. We’ll be holding all staff meetings on Wednesday 10 March at 4 and 5:15pm in Theatre 3. Management has not agreed for you to attend on paid time. All staff are encouraged to come, find out more and tell us what you think.

What can I do?

• Come to all staff meetings on Wednesday 10 March at 4 or 5:15pm in Theatre 3
  
• If you haven’t already, join your union! By being union members you help provide the power and resources we need to win a decent outcome for you and your colleagues. Membership fees are tax-deductible and tiered to salary so the less you earn, the less you pay i.e. casuals earning less than $10,000 can join for $3.90 a fortnight. Technical and trades employees (Fyshwick workshop) are encouraged to join the AMWU.