2013
Enterprise Agreements Frequently Asked Questions 1)
How does the voting process work? Please see separate voting process guidelines prepared by the Australian Election Company, attached.
2) Where do I find a copy of each enterprise agreement? Your proposed enterprise agreement is in the email which provided this FAQ. The Principal will post copies of the proposed Teachers Enterprise Agreement in the staffroom and/or other common staff areas in the school. CCER has also created a dedicated website for staff to access which has all the proposed Agreements to be voted on and any documents incorporated in the proposed Agreement. You may access the proposed Agreements at www.ccer.catholic.org.au/SchoolsFairWorkInfo/
commencement of the vote to discuss voting arrangements. 5)
What happens if a casual is engaged during the voting period? Are they eligible to vote? Yes. Any casual engaged since the start of the 2013 school year is eligible to vote.
6)
What happens once the vote is over? The Australian Election Company will inform the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations, and the IEU of the outcome.
7)
How will I know the results of the vote? CCER, your Catholic Schools or Catholic Education Office and the IEU will notify you of the outcome. Further, CCER will also post the decision on its website.
8)
Why does each Agreement have to be approved by the Fair Work Commission if the vote approved it? The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) requires the Fair Work Commission to assess each proposed Agreement against the Better Off Overall Test. If approved by a majority of persons who cast a valid vote, each proposed Agreement will be sent to the Fair Work Commission within 14 days with an application for approval.
9)
How will I know if the Fair Work Commission approves each Agreement? CCER and the IEU will notify you of the outcome. Further, CCER will also post the decision on its website.
3) If I have a question about an enterprise agreement who do I ask? Your Catholic Schools or Catholic Education Office contact. Members of the Independent Education Union can also contact the union to discuss the proposed agreements by calling 8202 8900 or 1800 467 943. 4) What if a Teacher or Principal is on parental leave or another form of extended leave? The Catholic Schools or Catholic Education Office will email a copy of the Agreement directly to them. They will receive an e-mail or letter from the Australian Election Company informing them on how to vote. If, however, a Teacher or Principal will be away from their usual address, they will need to contact the Catholic Schools or Catholic Education Office prior to the
10) Where can I get more information? www.ccer.catholic.org.au/SchoolsFairWorkInfo/
Proposed
TEACHERS (ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY AND DIOCESES OF BROKEN BAY AND PARRAMATTA) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013 EMPLOYEE BALLOT VOTING PROCESS NOTE: This FAQ document has been prepared by Richard Kidd, Australian Election Company as Returning Officer for the proposed TEACHERS (ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY AND DIOCESES OF BROKEN BAY AND PARRAMATTA) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013.
INTRODUCTION Employees eligible to vote in respect of the ” TEACHERS (ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY AND DIOCESES OF BROKEN BAY AND PARRAMATTA) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013” will be receiving a formal communication from the contracted Ballot Service Provider, Australian Election Company. Eligible employees and those who have supplied a preferred email address, can expect to receive an Internet Voting “Instruction Sheet/Password Advice” sent by email. These emails will be sent at approximately 7:55am AEDST on the morning of Ballot opening. Employees who have not supplied a preferred email address will have their “Instruction Sheet/Password Advice” mailed to their postal address a few days prior to Ballot opening. In either case, this communication will provide essential information regarding the Ballot process, which is being conducted entirely by Internet Voting. However, please note that the Ballot does NOT open until 8.00am AEDST 2 April, 2013. “Instruction Sheet/Password Advice” notices are sent to eligible voters in advance of the Ballot opening as a safeguard to ensure as far as possible that the information is received prior to opening time. The Ballot will close at 5:00pm AEST 12 April, 2013.
VOTING PERIOD What is the voting period for this Ballot? The voting period commences at 8:00am AEDST on 2 April, 2013 and closes at 5:00pm AEST on 12 April, 2013. Can I vote outside that period? No. Voting will only be open during the applicable Ballot period. VOTING METHOD What voting methods are available? This Ballot is being conducted by Internet Voting only. The URL (web address) to gain access to the Internet Voting site will be https://ivote.electionz.com/elections/CCER How will Internet Voting work? Prior to the Ballot, an Instruction Sheet including a randomly generated five (5) digit personal PIN will be sent to all eligible Employees.
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The PIN provided, used in conjunction with your PASSWORD, which for this Ballot is your Date of Birth entered in a six (6) digit format (eg 4 August 1976 is entered as DDMMYY – 040876), provides a high level of security and allows the Internet Voting system to authenticate you before giving you access to the Ballot.
Here is how the Internet Voting will work. When it is time to vote, go to the voting website URL https://ivote.electionz.com/elections/CCER . You will be asked to enter authentication details i.e. your random (PIN) and your 6 digit Password (Date of Birth) . Then click on the “Login” button. Once authenticated, you will be prompted to cast your vote. Place an “X” in the YES box if you wish to accept the proposed agreement, or place an “X” in the NO box if you wish to reject the proposed agreement. Then click on the “Submit” button. The system will then request you to confirm your vote selection. To confirm your vote selection, click on the “Submit” button. To amend your vote selection, click on the “Go Back” button and then change your vote. Click on the “Close” button to end your voting session and return to the Welcome screen. Once you have submitted your vote, your Password will be consumed and you will be unable to vote again.
BALLOT DETAILS
What is the Ballot for? The Ballot is to allow eligible employees to indicate whether they “Accept” or “Reject” the proposed TEACHERS (ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY AND DIOCESES OF BROKEN BAY AND PARRAMATTA) ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2013. Who is conducting the Ballot? The Returning Officer will be Mr Richard Kidd. Mr Kidd has conducted many Union, Employer Group and Corporation Elections, together with Collective/Certified/Enterprise Agreement Employee Ballots for a number of Government Departments/Agencies and private sector organizations including the Australian Taxation Office, Centrelink, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Suncorp, Thiess, and Emirates Airline. He is able to be contacted through
[email protected] . What will I receive from Australian Election Company? Just prior to the Ballot opening, eligible employees should receive their Instruction Sheet/Password Advice from Australian Election Company. Instruction Sheet/Password Advices will be emailed / mailed to all employees listed address. The Instruction Sheet/Password Advice will include details of your randomly generated PIN, together with the “step by step” Instructions on how to cast an Internet vote.
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VOTING PROCESS I have been told my name does not appear on the list of eligible voters. You will need to follow this up with your Catholic Education Office or Catholic Schools Office contact. I want to vote, but I’ve lost/spoilt/didn’t receive my Instruction Sheet/Password Advice. How can I vote? You will need to correctly respond to a series of identification check/authentication questions which will be posed by the Australian Election Company Helpdesk staff. The Helpdesk telephone number will be 1800 224 420. The Helpdesk email address is
[email protected] . I’ve voted, what should I do with my Instruction Sheet with my Password on it? No one else will be able to use your Password after you’ve voted, but you should destroy the Instruction Sheet anyway. I’ve voted, but want to change my vote. Can I? No, you will be unable to attempt to change your vote. As in most Ballots/Elections, each voter/elector is allowed only one vote. When that vote has been cast, the vote cannot be changed.
GENERAL Can I vote during work hours? You will be able to vote using Internet Voting anytime 24x7 during the currency of the applicable Ballot period. I want to mail or fax my voting preference. Can I do this? No. This Ballot is being conducted by Internet Voting only. The URL (web address) to gain access to the Internet Voting site is https://ivote.electionz.com/elections/CCER . Will anyone be able to tell how I voted? The information that identifies you as a employee eligible to vote is kept separate from your vote. The technology used by Australian Election Company ensures the secrecy of each person’s vote. CCER will only be advised of the outcome of the Ballot. They will not receive information about who participated in the Ballot. What Help Desk Facilities will be available? The Helpdesk telephone number will be 1800 224 420. The Telephone Helpdesk will operate minimally from 8:00am AEST to 5:00pm AEST (normal working days only) during the currency of the Ballot, however, calls are answered well outside these hours whenever AEC staff are on the premises. Any employees outside the Eastern States of Australia or overseas at the time of the Ballot will need to take into account relevant Time Zone differences. An email Helpdesk
[email protected] will be regularly monitored and will also be available. I want to relay comments on the Ballot process. Who can I contact about this? Comments about the Ballot process should be referred to the Returning Officer
[email protected] Technical related comments can be sent to
[email protected].
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