Media release
Attention Education and Industrial Reporters
Friday 10th May
Massey Collective Agreement Settled
Massey union members have voted overwhelmingly this week to ratify the latest employer offer. Key aspects of the
settlement include a 3.5% salary increase backdated to the first pay period in January, improvements to the position of
Massey staff who work on a temporary or casual basis, improvements to the sick leave and study provisions, an
undertaking to address important workload issues outside of the agreement and most significantly a recognition of the
importance of collective bargaining. The Agreement expires in October 2002 and negotiations recommence in September this
year.
"We are pleased that union members are so united in their decision to settle this long-running dispute. We certainly
would not have seen this level of support if the employer had not made significant concessions to union members. Our
unity throughout this process has been remarkable and obviously effective" said Combined Union Spokesperson Peter
Blakey.
"One of the most noteworthy and important aspects to this year's settlement is that the employer has recognised the
importance of our collective bargaining process. We have reached an agreement where the union negotiated settlement will
not automatically be passed on to non-union staff. This has already put a message into the Massey community that
bargaining collectively will achieve improvements and that if you choose not to be part of that you take your chances. I
think we have managed to demonstrate to staff that there are clear and tangible benefits to being part of our unions.
This aspect of our settlement puts us in a strong position for future bargaining" said Combined Union Spokesperson Jan
McPherson.
"Union members, however, are still dissatisfied with the employer's salary offer. At 3.5% it remains inadequate to
address the ongoing problems Massey faces when recruiting and trying to retain well-qualified and highly valuable staff.
We also note that the university has just announced a $15 million surplus, which is more than they budgeted for. We look
forward to raising with them the best way to spend this when negotiations recommence in September this year" said Peter
Blakey.
"A crucial aspect to establishing a sense of trust and goodwill between our unions and the employer, as we move towards
further negotiations in September, will be the work of the joint union/employer salary and workload taskforces. It will
be vital that these taskforces generate tangible and successful outcomes, within the short timeframes that we have,
which union members can see and appreciate" said Jan McPherson.
Contacts:
Jan McPherson h 3561089; cellphone 025 281 5622 (PN & Auckland)
Peter Blakey w 356 9099 extn 2682 or cellphone 021 660 930 (PN & Auckland)
Jill Ovens 025 424 809 (Wellington)