EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 6 - 14/10/26

Dear Member You are receiving this email as our records show that you are a Support Staff Member in TZV.
All the EBA information is collected on the TZV Central Web Page. Bookmark this page.

MEMBER ZOOM MEETING MONDAY DETAILS
We will be holding a Zoom meeting to discuss the situation and invite all members to attend Monday 19 October at 5pm. You can attend online or by phone.

TZV WALK AWAY NOT ENOUGH TIME BEFORE THE ELECTION INDUSTRIAL ACTION INEVITABLE
Conciliation resumed yesterday and we were met with a surprise. Despite our acceptance of the pay offer a day ago, TZV have said that they cannot go ahead because of the IRV inability to process the approval before 4 November. This was decided late on Wednesday. See the IRV letter below. The agreement will not be approved by TZV and IRC before the election. In short this is effectively next year. Then, we may also face a new set of rules.

AN INTERIM AGREEMENT?
TZV again floated the idea of an interim arrangement, requiring a "Memorandum of Understanding". We can only presume that IRV will approve. Our Committee rejected the proposal because of the conditions we had to agree to. The essential conditions were:
- A 3% pay rise
- A sign on bonus of $2965.78
- Members agree to no industrial action for 12 months
- Members agree to make no claim for backpay at all (The Parties agree that wage increases under a future negotiated agreement will be effective no earlier than the date that in-principle agreement is reached for that enterprise agreement.)

MADNESS WHERE TO NOW?
The issue now is not about the agreement terms, but about bureaucratic inaction. There are some EBA wording issues being tidied up and this is under way. Apart from that, TZV and IRV plan to sit on their hands.
We are following up with our contacts, but as you are aware, elections are times of madness.
Industrial action following a successful ballot will take place. It will be during the election period. Members are talking about a visit to the Minister's office to protest the bureaucratic delays.
We can discuss these matters on Monday's Zoom meeting.

INVITE OTHER SUPPORT STAFF TO JOIN OUR FIGHT
Only CWU Branch members can legally take industrial action. No other Union is involved. It's time to ask fellow staff members to support your claim for a better pay outcome from the EBA. Send them this link. Click here to join CWU T&S Branch
New members can join the ballot (if you are quick) and will receive ballot papers from the AEC. New members will be able to take industrial action when the ballot is approved by existing members. It is important that we maximise our pressure on TZV and IRV to process the EBA.

IRV EXPLANATION BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS STANDS IN THE WAY
The following is the Industrial Relations Victoria explanation to us and TZV dated Wednesday 14 Oct.

We understand Redford C has requested Industrial Relations Victoria (IRV) attend tomorrow's PABO conference. As IRV is not a party to this matter, it is not appropriate that we attend. We note in any event that IRV's attendance would not result in the granting of government approval to a proposed agreement at the conference itself.
The review of a proposed agreement includes an assessment of the agreement's terms and verification of associated costings and funding arrangements; this is undertaken by several teams, across different agencies and departments, and will ordinarily take two to four weeks working with the agency through drafting and clarification. The review, and any subsequent granting of government approval, cannot be performed by a single representative alone.
Guidelines on the Caretaker Conventions provide that government, including portfolio departments and public sector bodies, should avoid entering major contracts or undertakings, that would commit an incoming government, during the caretaker period. For a public sector enterprise agreement, this means the Fair Work Act 2009's agreement making requirements must be completed (i.e. outcome of the employee ballot confirmed) before 6PM on 3 November 2026.
In order to facilitate government approval before the above limitations commence operation, IRV asked portfolio departments and agencies to submit final agreements by 18 September 2026 to enable IRV to complete its review and confirm government approval by 9 October 2026.
We note the above timeframes did not consider any internal approval requirements the Department of Justice and Community Safety require to submit a proposed enterprise agreement to IRV. We also note that the agency is currently not operating within an endorsed settlement position, the bargaining parties have not confirmed in-principle agreement nor have the parties finalised drafting of a proposed agreement.
We are concerned there is now insufficient time for a proposed agreement to be granted government approval and, subsequently, for the agency to complete the Act's agreement making requirements. We encourage the parties to consider alternative arrangements with a view to resuming bargaining when the Victorian Government's authorising frameworks for public sector bargaining are re-established following the 2026 Victorian State election.
You are welcome to share this correspondence with Redford C's chambers and other parties if it will assist clarifying what can reasonably be achieved within the remaining time before the caretaker period commences.

EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 5 - 14/10/26

Dear Member
The outcome of the conciliation conference yesterday was as follows:
(a) A salary offer containing multiple elements and dates
(b) That TZV will provide a draft agreement today for our consideration
(c) That the FWC conference would resume on Thursday (tomorrow) at 2.30pm.
These are discussed below. Our Committee was of the view that this was the best that can be achieved at the moment. The Government is about to shut down for the election and TZV will not move without Government approval. All of us are concerned about Government policy after the election. And no matter who wins, negotiations are unlikely to commence until mid January next year.

MEMBER ZOOM MEETING TODAY - DETAILS
We will be holding a Zoom meeting to discuss the offers and invite all members to attend today at 5pm. You can attend on line or by phone.

NEXT ACTIONS
Unless there is strong opposition, and we accept the draft agreement, the proposed EBA will go to a vote of Support staff. There will be an access period of at least one week, followed by a secret ballot to approve the proposed EBA (another week), It must then be forwarded to the FWC for certification this can take several weeks.

SALARY OFFER
There are multiple elements and dates are important.
First the pay offer (paid after certification) is:
- 3% from 1 July 2026
- As this date has passed, back pay from certification to 1 July 2026
- Back pay from 1-January-26 to 1-July 26 in the form of "Patience in Bargaining" - 1.5% of salary paid as a lump sum
- 3% from 1-January 2027
- 3% from 1-January 2028
- 3% from 1-January 2029
Secondly, these elements are also paid on certification and thereafter:
- A "Sign-on bonus" of about $6,500 paid as a lump sum on certification
- A Continuous Improvement payment of $1000 paid on certification
- A SCDA increase paid as a fortnightly allowance equal to 0.25% of salary.
- A Continuous Improvement lump sum $1000 paid on 1 January 2027
- A SCDA Fortnightly Allowance continues from 1 January 2027.
- A Continuous Improvement lump sum $1000 paid on 1 January 2028
- A SCDA Fortnightly Allowance continues from 1 January 2028.
- A Continuous Improvement lump sum $1000 paid on 1 January 2029
- A SCDA Fortnightly Allowance continues from 1 January 2029.

A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
Assume an annual salary of $100,000. Assume a certification for a fortnightly payday of 1 January 2027 (this date is about 11 weeks away and will depend on the time for a ballot and time for FWC certification). These are approximate and rounded.
On the assumed payday of 31 December, the pay will include:
- A 3% (Jul 26) pay increase - equal to $3.000pa or $115 per fortnight (increasing our $100,000pa to $103,000pa.)
- Salary back pay to 1 Jul 26 = 1.5% equal to $1,500 lump sum
- Patience in Bargaining backpay of 1.5% equal to $1,500 lump sum
- A sign on bonus of about $6,500 paid as a lump sum
- A continuous Improvement payment of $1,000 paid as a lump sum
- A SCDA Allowance (annual would be $250) but fortnightly is $10
The same day 1 January 2027
- A further pay increase (Jan 27) of 3% being $3,090 pa or $119 fortnightly more (increasing our $100,000pa to $106,090pa.)
- A continuous Improvement payment of $1,000 paid as a lump sum
- A SCDA Allowance (annual would be $250) but fortnightly is $10
On 1 January 2028
- A further pay increase of 3% being $3,183 pa or $122 fortnightly more (increasing our initial $100,000pa to $109,273pa.)
- A continuous Improvement payment of $1,000 paid as a lump sum
- A SCDA Allowance (annual would be $250) but fortnightly is $10
On 1 January 2029
- A further pay increase of 3% being $3,278 pa or $126 fortnightly more (increasing our initial $100,000pa to $112,551pa.)
- A continuous Improvement payment of $1,000 paid as a lump sum
- A SCDA Allowance (annual would be $250) but fortnightly is $10

EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 4 - 13/10/26

We have just finished negotiations in the Fair Work Commission (at 5.40pm Tuesday). There has been some movement in pay and allowances and we wish to discuss the developments with you. We are awaiting a draft of the Agreement from TZV which should be provided tomorrow.
We will hold a Zoom meeting tomorrow at 5pm for all Support Staff Members to discuss the developments.
We will outline the current offer and position in an email tomorrow. Watch for our email and Zoom link tomorrow.
FWC proceedings will resume on Thursday 15th Oct at 2.30pm.

EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 3 - 06/10/26

FWC TO HOLD A CONFERENCE OF PARTIES
This matter is listed for compulsory conference before Commissioner Redford at 1.00PM on Tuesday 13 October, in Person. Our Committee is made up of Dan Dwyer, John Ellery, Jane Staude, Natasha Cordele, Todd Delahunt and Shailene Moriarty. All will be attending.

TZV SUPPORT EBA
Only CWU Branch members can legally take industrial action. No other Union is involved. It's time to ask fellow staff members to support your claim for a better pay outcome from the EBA. Send them this link. Click here to join CWU T&S Branch

TZV SUPPORT EBA BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
On Wed 23 Sep, we lodged an application with the FWC seeking Orders for a Ballot of members to approve a range of bans. The FWC has issued orders for the AEC to conduct the Ballot. The Ballot will open on 13 October 2026 and will close on 11 November 2026. It will be a postal ballot.

TZV SUPPORT EBA COMPULSORY CONCILIATION
The Fair Work Act requires that once an order for a Protected Action Ballot is made, the FWC must convene a compulsory conciliation of the parties to attempt to find a resolution. This matter has been re-listed for Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 1.00pm.
The Commission advises that the conference is intended to be a meaningful process. Conferences will be held in private and will be facilitated by a Commission Member. At the conference, Commissioner Redford can do a range of things including:
- mediating - conciliating
- making a recommendation
- expressing an opinion.
The Commission expects parties to use the conference as an opportunity to make genuine attempts to resolve the dispute and that the bargaining representatives will apply the appropriate level of resources and commitment.

EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 2 - 28/09/26

Dear Member,
You are receiving this email as our records show that you are a Support Staff Member in TZV.
All the EBA information is collected on the TZV Central Web Page. Bookmark this page.
Last Wednesday we filed an Application in the FWC seeking Orders that a Protected Industrial Action Ballot be conducted by the AEC.
Despite opposition from TZV, the Fair Work Commission granted the Orders we sought.
The FWC Decision is on our website.
The FWC Orders are on our website.
The Orders declare that the Ballot to approve Industrial Action must close on 10 November. We now await directions from the AEC re the opening off the Ballot and voter lists.
We also await Orders re a compulsory conciliation. The last para of the decision states
[17] Pursuant to s.448A(1), the Commission must conduct a s.448A compulsory conciliation conference in this matter. The Commission will issue an Order requiring the attendance of all bargaining representatives in the proposed enterprise agreement at the conference. It is likely that Directions will also be issued to ensure that the parties attend the conference ready to conduct meaningful negotiations
More to come.

EXTRACTS FROM TZV SPECIAL BULLETIN NO 1 - 23/09/26

Dear Member,
You are receiving this email as our records show that you are a Support Staff Member in TZV.
This is simply confirmation.
We have just filed an Application in the FWC seeking Orders that a Protected Industrial Action Ballot be conducted by the AEC.
We will advise of progress via these special bulletins.
Please ensure that our CWU records are up to date office@cwu.asn.au and in particular:
your address
your phone number