Women

New Parental Leave Standard

CPSU SPSF University agreement sets highest standard in Maternity Leave Benefits

By Ian Gallaway CPSU SPSF Group - NSW Branch
Industrial Officer

A new standard in Maternity and Paternity Leave benefits has been set in a new enterprise agreement negotiated by the CPSU at the University of Wollongong SRC. The highlight of the deal is for an employee with more than two years service: Maternity leave of 13 weeks on full pay and a further 39 weeks at 60% of salary.

In the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on 20 December 2001, Senior Deputy President Duncan certified an Enterprise Agreement containing a number of conditions exceeding the Howard Government's so-called "community standards."

The Agreement between the University of Wollongong Students' Representative Council (SRC) and the Community and Public Sector Union (SPSF Group) contains:

Salaries and working hours that match those of General Staff at the University of Wollongong.

Australia's best maternity and paternity leave, exceeding that previously gained by the CPSU (SPSF Group) at the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Long service leave after 5 years service.

For an employee with more than two years service:
Maternity leave: 13 weeks on full pay and a further 39 weeks at 60% of salary.
Paternity leave: 20 days leave on full pay.

In both cases this leave exceeds the ACU standard.
SRC President John Finlayson said, "this Agreement allows the SRC to make a public stand on significant issues in contemporary Australia."

"Firstly, to set a new Australian benchmark for maternity and paternity leave.

"Unfortunately, Australia provides amongst the lowest parental leave conditions in the world. Most Australian workplaces provide no payment for parental leave and Australians suffer a great penalty because of this if they leave the workforce for a period and then return to the workforce while raising the child.

"Secondly, it raises questions about the University of Wollongong's treatment of their General Staff - workers who do duties of the same nature as those of SRC employees.

"The University of Wollongong has a huge budget compared to the SRC, yet the University only gives its women employees 12 weeks paid leave and a further 52 weeks unpaid leave.

"The University needs to do a major rethink on employment conditions - including those for staff with parental responsibilities.

"Finally, the Agreement shows the value of unions in establishing decent pay and conditions for working Australians.

"It is no secret that the Howard government hates unions and doesn't want them in Australian workplaces.

"This Agreement shows the benefit of employers and unions working to achieve the highest standards for employees. I hope it encourages working Australians to join a union. It's no coincidence that the workplaces without paid parental leave, and with the worst conditions are the non-union ones," he said.

Long Service Leave.

The Agreement also provides another first. After five years service, Long Service will be granted at six and a half weeks on full pay.

Ian Gallaway, CPSU Industrial Officer said that, "The parental leave provisions are a breakthrough. The Long Service Leave entitlement is a significant improvement compared to the standard leave qualifying period of ten to fifteen years.

"It's also a positive experience to work with an employer organisation that shares the CPSU's view that Howard's 1950's social agenda is hugely damaging to the well-being of ordinary Australians and can be challenged," he said.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/women/20020106_WollongongSRC.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005