1 March 2010

Dear TEU members

Status of the MECA – Collective Agreement

As you are aware TEU made a request to the employer parties that during the next stage in the bargaining process (including the possible facilitation) all parties to the MECA continue to honour the MECA for existing and new staff.

Employers‘ response

We have received the following commitment from the employer parties

“For current TEU members under the coverage of the MECA the ITPs will agree that from 2 March 2010 until the completion of the current facilitation process, we will not approach TEU members in order to offer them additional or different terms and conditions to those contained in the MECA, provided no industrial action is taken while the current facilitation process is pending.”

So what does this mean for TEU members?

From 1 March 2010 the MECA ceases to exist as a MECA – collective agreement covering your employment.

Your current terms and conditions continue in force as an individual agreement.

Your conditions cannot be changed without your agreement. The employers have said they will not approach TEU members to discuss or negotiate any changes to your individual agreement.

If you are approached tell them to speak to the TEU advocate.

So what does this mean for new employees?

The employers have not agreed to continue to offer new staff the MECA terms and conditions. They may begin to appoint new employees on individual agreements that have different terms and conditions

The best thing for any new employee is to join the TEU immediately

Facilitation Process Update

The employers have in good faith not opposed the TEU’s application for facilitation and have agreed to the application being granted urgency. They have also confirmed that they will participate in good faith in the facilitation, should the reference be accepted by the Authority.

The TEU submissions were filed in the Auckland Employment Authority on Monday 1 March 2010. We have been advised that we should have a response to our application no later than Tuesday 9 March 2010

So while approximately 850 of our members may be on individual agreements we continue to speak as a collective TEU membership with your employers, the students and the public.

If you have any questions please contact your branch representative or email me directly.

TūKotahi – Stand as One

Irena Brorens, Lead Advocate – http://scr.im/irenabrorens

On behalf of your bargaining team – Glennis Birks (Wintec), Rod Fearn (WITT), Sarah Hardman (Unitec), Sharon Phillips (Whitireia), Eric Stone (NorthTec), Robyn Tucker (BoPP), Chan Dixon Co – Advocate (TEU Organiser)