2021-05-17 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                       17 MAY 2021


5     CERTIFIED AGREEMENT NEGOTIATION PROCESS

Author            People and Culture Manager, Brent Stephens
                  Executive Services Department

Index             ECM/ Subject/ Certified Agreement

Attachments       Nil.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the People and Culture Manager to the General Committee Meeting
dated 17 May 2021 providing an update on the Certified Agreement negotiation process and
authorise the Chief Executive Officer to finalise the Noosa Shire Council Certified Agreement.

REPORT
The purpose of this report is to inform Council of progress in the development of a Noosa Shire
Council Certified Agreement (CA). This report will also outline the final steps in the process for the
Certified Agreement to be certified.
1.    Background
The initial Noosa Council Certified Agreement 2018 brought together the two Sunshine Coast
Council Certified Agreements which continued to apply to Noosa Council under relevant industrial
relations legislation.
During the current negotiations the five participating unions presented 46 claims which were themed
into six categories whilst Council tabled 17 matters for negotiation.
Negotiations commenced on 11 February 2021 and following a series of meetings from this date to
early May, a final pay offer was submitted to unions to reach “in principal” agreement and to progress
to a staff vote.
Signatories to the proposed new four year CA will include:
    CEO, Noosa Council
    The Services Union
    The Australian Workers Union of Employees
    The Construction, Forestry, Mining, Maritime and Energy Union of Employees
    United Voice Industrial Union of Employees
    Plumbers Union of Employees Qld
    Professionals Australia
    Transport Workers Union
    Electrical Trades Union
Many of the clauses within the proposed new CA remain unchanged from the 2018 Agreement with
the exception of the issues identified below:
     A four year agreement which will provide longer term certainty for both Council and staff.
     Pay increases as follows:
      o     Year 1 - 1.6% or $23 whichever is greater
      o     Year 2 – 1.75% or $25 whichever is greater
      o     Year 3 – 2.25% or $27 or CPI whichever is greater
      o     Year 4 – 2.5% or $27 or CPI whichever is greater

                                                                                     Page 31 of 46