Bulletin 9 - Improved offer - issued 24 September 2021

After carefully considering the feedback provided on my improved offer made on 19 August 2021, I am pleased to advise that today (24 September 2021) I made improvements to that offer.

I am offering further significant improvements to terms and conditions of service for employees in a genuine attempt to settle negotiations and finalise bargaining.

The table below is a summary of key improvements. You can also read the full details of the improved offer.

Bulletin 9 graphics

Summary of the improvements

Improved condition Employee rights and entitlements
  • No reduction to current or future employee rights and entitlements.
Improved condition Allowances
  • Continue Darwin CPI Increases on allowances listedin Determination Number 1 of 2021 relevant to the enterprise agreement.  The allowances will not reduce if the Darwin CPI decreases
New paid leave entitlement
Christmas Closedown
  • Paid leave for Christmas closedown to cover the working days between Christmas Day and New Year ’s Day
  • Employees who are required to work during this will get an equivalent entitlement to use within 12 months
Improved condition
Job security
  • No involuntary redundancies for the term of the Agreement (does not apply to redeployees greater than 2 years)
Improved condition
Further improvements to leave provisions
  • Parental Leave
    • Improvements to payment of employer superannuation guarantee contributions (SG) during the first 12 months of parental leave:
      • a. SG paid during paid and unpaid Partner Leave provided the employee’s spouse is also an NTPS employee
      • b. SG paid at double the legislated rate during a period of paid Primary Caregiver leave or Special Maternity Leave (stillbirth)
  • Union delegate training leave
    • Remove the current 12 month service requirement to enable access to paid union delegate training earlier
Improved condition
Excess Travel Time
  • Employees in receipt of salary up to the maximum annual salary of Jacana Level 3, will be eligible to accrue time of in lieu (not paid overtime) in situations requiring excess travel time. (No change for employees eligible for excess travel time currently.)
Improved condition
Flexible Work arrangements
  • Only CEOs will have the authority to refuse an employee’s request to work from home

Other changes to my improved offer

My improved offer also provides a range of other improvements to conditions such as dispute settlement procedures, lump sum payment provisions (for casuals and employees on leave without pay) and safe and healthy work environments, as set out in the attached information sheet.

As a number of the improvements above have cost implications it was necessary to review my initial offer to identify some offsets. My initial offer is amended as follows:

  • Modify paid health screening leave to provide 1 hour (not 2) per year (noting this amendment is still double the existing entitlement which is 1 hour every 2 years for cancer screening); and
  • Withdrawal of the transition to retirement proposal (2 hours/year). Employees may still utilise flextime, TOIL or other leave for this purpose.

Next step

I have asked the parties to provide me with feedback on the improved offer by 1 October 2021.

Have your say – your feedback is important

Should you wish to express a view on the proposals or make a suggestion, you can provide your feedback to me by emailing enquiries.ocpe@nt.gov.au.

Last updated: 04 May 2022

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