What is Enterprise Bargaining?

Enterprise bargaining is the negotiation process between an employer and its employees to determine pay and working conditions. Pay and working conditions are then set out in a legally binding document called an Enterprise Agreement (EA). At ANZ, FSU represents employees in the bargaining process. The working conditions of ANZ employees are currently underpinned by the ANZ/FSU Agreement 1998.

Why Bargain Now?

It has been more than ten years since ANZ and FSU negotiated an Enterprise Agreement. Many employment conditions in the 1998 Agreement are now outdated. It is important that the Enterprise Agreement is renegotiated to reflect what’s important to you at work in 2009 and beyond.

The new Enterprise Agreement will be negotiated under the new workplace laws – the Fair Work laws. The Fair Work laws replace Work Choices from 1 July 2009 and afford greater protection to employees than Work Choices did.

Why is it important to be an FSU member?

So you get a say in your pay and conditions at ANZ. The greater the membership, the better the conditions FSU will be able to secure for you in the new Enterprise Agreement. If you are not already a member join now online at http://www.fsunion.org.au/Join-the-FSU/default.aspx.

What does Enterprise Bargaining Involve?

Claim Endorsement
The claim sets out the pay and conditions FSU is seeking on behalf of members. FSU is currently consulting members about what you want out of a new Enterprise Agreement. The claim will include guaranteed pay rises, enhanced job security and achievable workloads and targets. FSU will seek members’ approval of the claim and will use it as the basis of negotiations with ANZ.
 

Negotiations between FSU and ANZ
Negotiations will take place through a series of meetings which will begin in mid June. Your FSU Representatives from the ANZ National Enterprise Council (NEC) will take part in these negotiations. FSU will continue to consult with members throughout these negotiations and ask for feedback on proposals that result from bargaining.

Ballot
When FSU and ANZ have a draft Agreement that both parties are satisfied with - and which FSU has consulted members about - it will be put to ballot. This means that all ANZ employees who are covered by the proposed Agreement will get to vote on it.

Certification of Agreement
In order for the proposed Enterprise Agreement to become legally enforceable, a majority of staff who participate in the ballot (50% plus 1) has to vote ‘yes’.