Dear Members,
Last week AustralianSuper approached the FSU for its support in varying your enterprise agreement. The change would insert a new clause relating to a deferral option of the pay increase of 1 July 2020.
The rationale provided by the Fund was that colleagues had voluntarily approached Senior Management and P&C, to defer their pay increase. Importantly, when the Union sought clarity on this rationale, the Fund made it clear that this was not a result of its financial position or viability.
Our Union does not support this change
A request to vary an agreement is never taken lightly. The ramifications of altering your EA extend beyond those who would utilise it – this would establish a precedent and have flow-on effects to colleagues in other parts of the Superannuation sector.
It is our view that a variation to the EA is not required in these circumstances as the effect would have far greater reach overall. A change to the EA affects everyone covered by it.
Union members find other solutions
We understand that the COVID-19 crisis has put financial pressure on Fund members, as it has our own members. Your Union Delegates have worked constructively to identify alternate solutions both prior to, and after the Fund’s request last week.
We have put forward suggestions including establishing charitable donations and direct fund contribution options. We remain committed to working constructively in building out and implementing these options if the Fund is open to them.
For those seeking to support Fund members, we would encourage you to look at the important work of many community support services and how to best contribute to them.
We will continue working for the best interests of FSU members in an open and constructive way with the Fund.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of your Delegates or FSU National Industrial Officer Mark Pannowitz (mark.pannowitz@fsunion.org.au)
In Unity,
Julia Angrisano