5 UNION RIGHTS

5.01 Union Representatives

5.01.02 You must talk about the need to leave your work area with your supervisor before you do so.

5.01.03 Reasonable union related use of e-mail and web access is an accepted aspect of working life at the University. There will be no surveillance by the University of any e-mail or web communication between University staff and Union offices or officers at the University or off-campus.

Time Release for Union Team Members for Workplace Bargaining

5.01.04 You will not be disadvantaged because of Union activities conducted because of bargaining for, or implementation of, Enterprise Agreements.

5.01.05 The University will give funds to the relevant budget units to allow the essential replacement of up to 8 staff members, either being on the Union team or providing extensive help to the team, for an average for each of 1 day per week or 52 days per year.

5.01.06 Funding will be provided for the staff members beyond the date of certification to allow joint meetings. Application may also be made for funding of essential replacement of staff who are official Union observers or members of committees. At the end of the financial year, money not spent and not committed for replacement which has had to be carried over to the next year will be given back to the central budget.

NTEU Office Space

5.01.07 The University will continue to provide separate accessible office space and reasonable facilities for the CPSU branch on campus and the NTEU Branch on campus.

5.02 Right of Entry of Union Officials

• enter University premises;
• investigate suspected breaches of the Act, an Award, Order, or Agreement;
• see any work, material, machinery, appliance, article, Agreement or other thing on the premises and copy relevant papers; and
• meet and to talk to or interview, on the premises, any staff member who is, or is eligible to be, a member of the Union.

5.02.03 Union officials are expected to tell the University if they wish to enter to investigate a breach or to meet and interview staff. (As the process of Workplace Bargaining is one of joint participation, this does not extend to visits and meetings for that process.) Discussions between Union officials and staff should, as far as possible, be held during meal breaks or other work breaks and particularly at times which do not disrupt teaching.

5.03 Union Meetings

5.03.01 Unions may hold meetings of members on University premises. Notice of the meetings and the location will be given to the University. Meetings will be held during meal breaks or other work breaks and at times which cause the least disruption to teaching, unless the Union and the University agree to meetings in working hours.

5.04 Going to External Union Meetings and Union Training

5.04.01 The University generally supports leave for courses, seminars and conferences which improve the skills of elected workplace representatives.

5.04.02 You may be given leave of absence on full pay for up to 5 days in any one calendar year as a member of a registered industrial Union, to go to Union courses or seminars, on the following conditions:

the operating requirements of the University must allow the giving of the leave without the need for employment of casual staff or the working of overtime;

• the scope, content and level of the accredited courses must contribute to a better understanding of industrial relations;
• you must hold a formal position with your Union or branch;
• leave may be up to 10 days in any calendar year if the total leave in that and the next year does not exceed 10 days;
• leave may include travelling time needed during working hours to go to the course or seminar, up to the above limits;
• payment will be at ordinary pay and will not include shift allowances, penalty rates or overtime;
• you must meet fares, accommodation, meal costs and other expenses.

5.04.04 Leave given for these courses will count as service for all purposes.

External Union Meetings

5.04.05 You will be given leave of absence as a Union or branch delegate to go to external Union meetings, such as Delegates Meetings and Annual Meetings, if notice is given to the Director, Personnel.

5.04.06 Examples of other external meetings are:

• executive, National Council, Committee of Management meetings, Women's Conferences;
• the annual conference of the Labor Council of NSW;
• Union working parties; and
• the bi-annual conference of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

5.04.08 Leave of absence to go to external Union meetings:

• needs prior approval and must be at the University's convenience;
• must be confined to a minimum of staff;
• will be for the smallest period needed;
• will be payable at ordinary pay rates;
• includes reasonable travelling time to and from the conference or meeting; and
• must not require the University to meet fares, overtime, travelling and sustenance allowances, meal money, etc.

5.05 Witness for Union before an Industrial Tribunal

5.04.09 You may take, on average, 10 days leave of absence each year as a Union delegate.

5.06 Loan of Services to Unions

5.06.02 The loan of service is to be leave without pay and:

• the Union is required to meet all on-costs, including superannuation;
• the University will send an account to the Union for costs not met by the Union.

5.07 Distribution of Union Material

5.07.01 The University will provide notice boards for the Union. Union notices posted must be authorised by the Union.

Provision of Union Application Forms to New Staff

5.07.03 On appointment or at the time of your first salary payment, the University will give you:

• a notice advising you which Union or Unions have coverage and that the University will deduct Union subscriptions;
• Union brochures and membership application forms if supplied to the University by the Union; and
• forms for authorising deductions, including subscriptions to the Union or other bodies nominated by the Union to collect subscriptions.

5.07.04 All Union publications, including recruitment material, surveys, and other electronic communications will be distributed to Union members in the University, as addressed, without charge or undue delay.

5.07.05 If asked by the local Union branches, with 48 hours notice, the University will give lists of all staff members eligible for Union membership by name, position and area; and/or mailing labels for the internal mail.

5.08 Provision of Facilities and Resources for Workplace Bargaining

5.08.02 The Union team will have at least 2 and up to 8 members at any joint meeting. Union officials may go to meetings and be on the Union team. If agreed, other persons may be invited and may speak and answer questions.

5.08.03 An industrial relations consultant will conduct workplace bargaining training sessions for new or replacement members of the teams at agreed times.

5.08.04 A schedule of dates and times of meetings may be agreed.

Meeting Agenda and Notes

5.08.05 The agenda for each meeting will be agreed by the team leaders and distributed to all members at least one week before each meeting. New items can be added by agreement.

5.08.06 The Manager, Industrial Relations Services will take notes for the University listing those present, clear points of agreement and matters for action, rather than a summary of the discussion.

5.08.07 The University will give the draft meeting notes if wished to each member in a week. The draft notes will be open to suggestions for amendment by any member at the next scheduled meeting.

5.08.08 If agreed, the notes, amended as agreed, will be placed on the web on the Personnel Office home page (http://www.pers.mq.edu.au).

Working Parties

5.08.09 The University and the Union may agree on working parties and their terms of reference. Each will decide their representation, but there must be at least one member of each team on each working party. The University will provide word processing and other support. Working parties will report to the joint meeting.

Contributions to Costs of Unions

5.08.10 The University will give funds to the Union branches for costs of bargaining, including consultation, data processing, and office staff.

5.08.11 The University will meet the additional costs for staff on the Union team if joint meetings take place before 9am or after 5pm and special child care arrangements are needed.

Electronic Resources for Union Team Members

5.08.12 The University will give all Union team members and the NTEU office access to e-mail.

Access to University Publications

5.08.13 The University and the Union will use Staff News to keep staff informed about bargaining and Agreements. Items from either team must meet editorial requirements.