ABS breakthrough! Job cuts settlement document being drafted
25 June 2009, 8:50am
Your union is pleased to report that our strong push for a fair redundancy process is paying dividends.
Significant progress was made in consultation yesterday for a genuinely voluntary process – something your union believes is the best way to resolve this difficult situation quickly and with the least harm to employees. ABS is now drafting a settlement document for your union to consider.
What are the proposed arrangements?
ABS has agreed with the CPSU proposal to conduct a quick voluntary-based
process.
For EL1s there will be a call for expressions of interest (EoI) in
voluntary redundancies (VR).
The EoI will be open to all EL1s across ABS.
The EoI is proposed to be open for 2 weeks.
Resource Centre heads will recommend who should or should not be
offered a VR.
A panel consisting of a DAS and two FASs will make the final decide
on VR offers.
The ABS proposal to assess all EL1 employees has been dropped at this
stage.
Should this voluntary process not resolve the situation, further
consultation with CPSU would occur on any next steps.
For EL2 employees, a decision about whether a general expression of
interest process will occur at the end of July. If a process is necessary,
it will be the same as the EL1 process.
CPSU has required that the settlement include undertakings to ensure
that consultation will be productive. CPSU suggested the following
undertakings:
ABS shall refrain from commencing any assessment process until
consultation is complete
Consultation shall be based on CPSU and ABS genuinely seeking
agreement
Any disputes that arise in consultation shall be referred to the
AIRC.
CPSU advised ABS that while progress has been made towards an agreed process,
significant issues remain over the number of excess positions. This is because
ABS say the excess situation arises from pay increases over 2 years, but are
only offering a 1 year pay increase to ABS employees.
What happens now?
ABS undertook to draft a settlement proposal for CPSU to consider.
Your CPSU Section Council will meet to consider the ABS draft settlement
proposal.
Once accepted by CPSU, this document would be provided to the AIRC as
resolution of the dispute.
Your union will continue to monitor the situation and enforce your
rights.
What can I do?
Members' fees, members' attendance at CPSU meetings and the AIRC, and
members' guiding feedback during this entire dispute have ensured that this
victory is owned by CPSU members. This dispute demonstrates why it is essential
to have a strong CPSU at ABS.
