If the universal ballot does not endorse the proposed Agreement, the University will, of course, have to recommence negotiations de novo with the NTEU alone. In practice this will mean that, except for those staff eligible for coverage by the CPSU, any proposed salary increases will be reconsidered in the light of the strict capacity of the University to pay and that specific reference to productivity measures will be incorporated into any revised offer. I must add that in such a situation the University will not contemplate any backdating and the effective date for the implementation of a salary increase will be that when the Agreement is certified in the Industrial Relations Commission. The issues here are clear and unambiguous and it is thus appropriate to assign to staff the decision whether to accept the current offer or to forego the proposed salary increases and recommence the bargaining process in pursuit of two issues which relate solely to national union policies and quite recklessly ignore the capacity of this University to pay. To ensure that you are familiar with the final version of the proposed Agreement, please note that you can access it from the University's WWW home page.
All staff can expect to receive instructions covering the proposed ballot shortly.
I urge all staff to give serious consideration to the proposed offer and encourage you to vote for it. In doing so you will not only be voting for a salary increase as well as the benefits listed above, you will be voting for a period of stability which is essential if La Trobe University is to compete as a research-based University in a higher education arena in which a few, older and well resourced universities are actively striving to undermine the position of newer institutions. This University, like others, is at a critical juncture and this ballot thus sets an important responsibility upon all staff.