The Department of Agriculture Enterprise Agreement 2015 (EA) is a comprehensive agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for employees of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The agreement was negotiated between the Department, represented by the Departmental Secretary, and the unions representing staff, including the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).
The EA covers a wide range of employment conditions, including salaries, allowances, workplace flexibility, and leave entitlements. It also includes provisions related to employment security, redundancies, and dispute resolution.
One of the key features of the EA is a six-year pay deal that was agreed upon in 2015. The pay deal included a 0.75% pay increase for the first year, followed by 1% per year for the next five years. This pay increase is in line with the Australian Government’s policy of ensuring that public sector wages remain within its fiscal sustainability parameters.
The EA also provides for a range of allowances that are payable to employees, including:
– Living Away From Home Allowance: This allowance is paid to employees who are required to live away from their usual place of residence for work purposes.
– Higher Duties Allowance: This allowance is paid to employees who are temporarily performing duties at a higher level than their usual classification.
– Vehicle Allowance: This allowance is paid to employees who are required to use their own vehicle for work purposes.
In addition to these allowances, the EA also provides for a range of leave entitlements, including:
– Annual Leave: All full-time employees are entitled to four weeks of annual leave per year, with part-time employees receiving a pro-rata entitlement.
– Personal/Carer’s Leave: Employees are entitled to 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year, which can be used for personal illness or to care for sick family members.
– Long Service Leave: After 10 years of continuous service, employees are entitled to 13 weeks of long service leave at full pay.
Overall, the Department of Agriculture Enterprise Agreement 2015 provides a comprehensive framework for the employment conditions of staff within the Department. The agreement ensures that staff are provided with fair and reasonable entitlements, while also being cognizant of the Australian Government’s fiscal sustainability parameters.