Bulletin 2 - Enterprise Agreement negotiations to commence - issued 21 July 2025

Commencement of negotiations

I write to you to express disappointment at the refusal of the United Workers Union and its delegates to commence the enterprise bargaining meeting scheduled for 10:30 am on Friday 18 July 2025 for a new Correctional Officer (NTPS) Enterprise Agreement.

As you are aware, this meeting was intended to introduce the bargaining representatives who will be at the table on behalf of the Commissioner of Corrections and to discuss and plan the negotiation process, which will be held in line with the Fair Work Act 2009 good faith bargaining requirements.

I do not accept that the conduct displayed on Friday is appropriate or professional bargaining etiquette, nor is it acceptable that the UWU or its delegates dictate who will represent the employer in the negotiations. Further, I note the actions on Friday were not consistent with s. 228 of the Act with respect to good faith bargaining requirements. As would have been outlined in the meeting, the Commissioner of Corrections and I may attend negotiations as necessary to address bargaining issues, as has been the case with all other bargaining meetings we hold.

Should this refusal to engage in the bargaining continue, the delays it causes could impact the timing of the commencement of any agreed improvements for our Correctional Officer workforce in line with the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) Enterprise Bargaining Policy – 2025 to 2028 PDF (133.0 KB).

I will be rescheduling another meeting, and I am looking forward to commencing bargaining for a new agreement at that time, with the intention to provide an offer ahead of the expiry of the current agreement on 2 December 2025.

I will issue a further bulletin providing an update after that meeting.

Nicole Hurwood 
Commissioner for Public Employment