Against a background of budget cuts, job losses and a sharp rise in the cost of living, your CPSU reps met with DVA on 19 August to press our claim for a fair replacement Union Collective Agreement (UCA).
The main difficulties to date are:
Low pay offer
DVA says it can’t afford more than a 4% per annum pay increase, despite inflation running at 4.5%. DVA have not yet finalised funding for the next three years with the Department of Finance, yet they have already rejected your 5% per annum pay claim;
Lack of any detail
DVA hasn’t tabled any detail on their bargaining agenda. This makes it difficult to reach agreement by the end of September and to have a new UCA commence on 1 January 2009.
DVA want to remove Performance Development and Review arrangements from the UCA and transfer them into Policy – no detail;
DVA want to reduce unscheduled absenteeism – Their initial agreement to focus on wellness initiatives has now been revised. DVA are not ruling out more intrusive measures – no detail;
Indecision
DVA has not yet made any definitive decisions in relation to your claims including:
CPSU claim for genuine consultation processes through new National and Local Consultative forums – DVA still considering;
CPSU claim for a “No Disadvantage Guarantee” for all DVA staff in the AWA to UCA transition process – DVA have promised more detail on AWA to UCA transition process by 9 September. However, when DVA provides this detail it will need to be closely scrutinised by all staff.
What you can do
To secure an agreement in the interests of all DVA staff we need you to support your bargaining team now by:
Remember it is important to support everyone’s issues in the interest of all DVA staff.
DVA Unity Pledge
Pay offer: I pledge to support the CPSU pay claim for a 5% p/a increase.
No disadvantage: I pledge to support the CPSU “No Disadvantage Guarantee” to protect pay and conditions for myself and all of my DVA colleagues.
Consultation: I pledge to support formal consultative mechanisms so DVA staff have the capacity to influence decisions on matters affecting them before they are made.
PD & R: I pledge to support fair, transparent and agreed PD&R arrangements.
Staff wellbeing: I pledge to support positive measures to improve the health, safety and and wellbeing of all DVA staff;
Resource your UCA campaign: I pledge to join the CPSU and / or encourage others to join too so we have a strong union and the resources to be successful!
