Legal Instrument Required
The Government will not permit funding to be released to the employers to pay the increase without a legal instrument. Because the new EBA will take some time to finalise, be voted on and lodged with the Workplace Authority, we have been negotiating a legally binding Deed which will incorporate the terms of settlement and permit funding to be released to make the back payments.
Negotiations
The negotiations for the Deed are all but finalised save for one matter. The outstanding issue concerns the wording of the 4 clear days off provision.
Commission Proceedings
The above sticking point will be the subject of further negotiations in proceedings before Commissioner Smith on Wednesday 30 January 2008. We are hopeful a resolution can be reached at that time.
We will keep you advised of developments.
