Negotiations have been prolonged and most recently involved three full days of facilitation in the Employment Relations Authority.
We now have a recommended settlement for members to vote on before the end of 11 October 2023.
The proposed Collective Agreement is ratified if 50% + 1 of all E tū and PSA Union members who vote accept it.
- If the majority of members vote YES, then we will sign the Collective Agreement on your behalf.
- If the majority of members vote NO, then the next step will be to ballot members for Industrial Action.
The offer you need to vote on is complex, therefore, we will be running online meetings to discuss the terms of settlement.
The key details
- Sick leave
- 10 days sick leave plus 2 days sick leave for Union members on your next sick leave anniversary.
In addition, we have a record of settlement for a one-off of 3 days sick leave to be added to your current sick leave balance if you were a Union member as at 24 July 2021 to 1 October 2023
As this is a combined record of settlement and the terms of settlement it means that if members ratify this collective agreement, this will also settle the legal case about sick leave entitlements.
This 3-day one-off allocation of sick leave will replace any sick leave entitlement which may have resulted from the Employment Relations Authority determination which the unions won against Access (No 317 2402) and it will settle the appeal case Access has taken against the win.
- Pay increase
- 3% increase in your pay from 30 October 2023
- and backpay of the 3% from 1 July 2023 to 30 October 2023 paid to Union members when Access receives the funding
- Data Allowance
- Where a worker is not provided with a phone, they will be paid a data allowance of $0.08 cents per log, from the date of ratification.
- Guaranteed hours
- new wording clause 4.2
Support workers with guaranteed hours will receive rosters 14 days in advance outlining when they will work their guaranteed hours and any additional hours agreed for that period at the time of the roster being provided. The roster will contain identified clients. However, where there is not a client to include within the hours scheduled 14 days in advance, an empty time within the guaranteed hours may be shown as a blank and will be paid time and may be filled during the roster period.
It is essential you read the Terms of Settlement and Record of Settlement for sick leave case before voting. A copy of the tracked change proposed Collective Agreement is available for you as well. These can be found below.
Recommendation
Your combined union bargaining team recommends members accept the proposed Collective Agreement for the following reasons:
- The 2021 collective agreement has long expired, and members are now on Individual Agreements. Some members are on individual agreements based on the lapsed collective agreement while others are employed on inferior terms and conditions.
- Bargaining has been lengthy and after 3 full days of facilitation in the Employment Relations Authority, we believe this is the best we can achieve without taking Industrial Action.
Next Steps
- Join us online to talk understand the offer and talk with your fellow union members about the offer.
| Tuesday 10 October 2023 7pm Click here to join online | Wednesday 11 October 2023 1pm Click here to join online |
2. Vote on the offer
Shortly, you will be sent your membership number and voting link via either a text or email with a link to cast your digital vote.
You can only vote once and voting closes at 11:59 pm Wednesday 11 October 2023.
If the offer is accepted by the majority (50% plus 1) of union members
The Collective Agreement will be signed and the sick leave case will be settled in line with the record of settlement.
If the offer is rejected by the majority (50% plus 1) of union members
The collective will not be signed and the record of settlement will not have any effect. Access will continue its appeal to the Employment Court about sick leave.
Union Members will then be balloted for Industrial Action in support of a better outcome.
Please see all ratification related documentation below.