From Wednesday this week you will have the capacity to vote on a new Collective Agreement at ANZ for the first time since 1998. This agreement is the result of over twelve months of negotiations between ANZ and FSU and consultation with members throughout December/January and October.

Whilst the agreement doesn’t deliver everything FSU members asked for in relation to targets and performance assessment, it does deliver pay increases for 2010 & 2011 for Group 5 & 6 employees. This follows member consultation during December/January, when 97% of members said they didn’t agree with moving to the Global Performance Framework as part of a new agreement.

The proposed agreement also delivers an independent umpire (Fair Work Australia) who will, for the first time, be able to arbitrate on a large number of workplace issues. However, given that ANZ have ‘sole discretion’ in determining your performance objectives, it will be extremely difficult for an employee to have their targets and the setting of their performance objectives successfully arbitrated.

New minimum salary rates are included in the agreement which modernises the wage safety net for Group 5 & 6 staff. The minimum movement in 2010 ranges from 2% to 6.9% and all grades will move by a minimum of 2% in 2011.

Following the October consultation process the most significant change to the agreement is the reinstatement of district allowances for members who live in remote areas of Australia. ANZ had proposed to exempt new employees from the allowances but following FSU member feedback have reinstated the current entitlement.

The FSU ANZ National Enterprise Council delegates have endorsed this agreement. Whilst the agreement doesn’t deliver everything FSU members asked for FSU believes it is an important step forward for members at ANZ and we encourage your positive vote on the new agreement.