Following intensive bargaining between the NTEU Murdoch Branch Bargaining Team and Murdoch University Management, substantial progress has been made towards the agreement, including the reintroduction of proper regulation for the use of fixed term contracts by the University.

The Bargaining Team has therefore taken the decision to withdraw the proposed industrial action for next Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February 2010, the first 2 days of the teaching semester.

Following agreement late last year between the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and Edith Cowan University, new collective agreements have been settled for academic and general staff.

Important features of the new agreements include:

• A 17% pay rise (18.3% compounded) by June 2012.
• Improved rights and pay for casuals.
• Improved superannuation benefits for casual and fixed-term staff.
• Improved employment opportunities for members of the Indigenous community.
• Improved conditions for contract research staff.
• Improved job security by restrictions on the use of fixed-term contracts.
• Strengthened reclassification procedures for general staff.
• Restoration of union rights.

Although settled and signed by the parties, the new agreements are currently with Fair Work Australia awaiting certification. Once this formality is completed, the new agreements will be available to members on the NTEU ECU website: http://www.nteu.org.au//bd/ecu

NTEU ECU Branch President, Dr Alan Needham, said the successful bargaining outcomes were a result of a constructive approach being taken to the negotiations by all parties.  He thanked the NTEU bargaining team which included Geoff Lummis and Judy McCulloch, staff-elected members Ute Mueller and Ian Bennett, and members of the ECU Branch for their strong support.

Following intensive bargaining on December 16, the NTEU and Murdoch University Management reached agreement and have signed a Heads of Agreement. As a consequence of this HoE, the NTEU lifted its industrial action including the ban on the transmission of student results as of close of business on December 16.

The determined and effective action of members who have banned the transmission of results (and all those who have participated in this campaign throughout this year) have achieved significant movement from the University.

Negotiations will continue in the New Year to reach final settlement on new Union Collective Agreements at Murdoch University.