In a grab for unprecedented control over staff entitlements, UniSuper has proposed changes to employment contracts that could mean a loss of employment rights overnight.
FSU Members have taken a stand and said they are not comfortable with these changes, and have begun taking action.
UniSuper claims that they wish to update all the Employments Contracts of staff who are not currently on the Enterprise Agreement to modernise and standardise them. If this were truly their goal, a mechanism for this already exists. The Enterprise Agreement!
In reality, UniSuper wishes to gain unprecedented control over staff entitlements, especially those relating to leave and redundancy. By placing these (and other) entitlements into policy, these entitlements can be changed unilaterally and without consultation.
UniSuper staff could lose rights overnight.
UniSuper claims that these are minor changes and that this is a normal process. That is NOT the case in either respect.
By making this claim, UniSuper may be misrepresenting the rights of their staff at work. Furthermore, UniSuper states that while staff do not have to accept these changes, if staff do not, they will not be eligible for a pay increase!!! They call this an incentive. We feel that this sounds more like coercion.
FSU Members are fighting back! Recently, a large number of members and staff attended a Zoom meeting to ask questions and raise concerns about these proposed changes. Butwe are just getting started.
A letter has been sent to management addressing the concerns raised and an explainer document has been prepared so staff can share the information with each other and understand exactly what UniSuper is proposing.
It pays to join the FSU!
Over the next few weeks FSU specialist Advocates will be assisting FSU members with their contracts of employment including draft clauses and during negotiations.
Anyone working for UniSuper who needs urgent assistance, advice and representation right now should contact the FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378 or email fsuinfo@fsunion.org.au