Part Six - Union Provisions

Secondary and Area School Groundstaff Collective Agreement
Effective: 1 August  2011 to 20 August 2013.

6.1 Meetings

6.1.1 The employer shall allow every member of a union party they employ to attend at least two union meetings (each of a maximum of two hours’ duration) in each calendar year subject to being given 14 days notice of the date and time of the meeting.

6.1.2 The union shall make arrangements to ensure any necessary or emergency groundskeeping work is covered during any meeting, including where necessary, an arrangement for a union member or members to remain available during the meeting. Work shall resume as soon as practical after the meeting.

6.1.3 Where the union member attends a union meeting under 6.1.1 and at a time he/she would otherwise be working, he/she shall be paid up to two hours at ordinary pay.

6.1.4 The union must supply the employer with a list of members who attended the union meeting and the duration of the meeting.

6.2 Deduction of Fees

6.2.1 The employer shall deduct union fees from those employees who are bound by this agreement and who have given the employer written authority to make such a deduction. The employer shall remit such fees, together with a list of employees from whom deductions were made, to the appropriate union at mutually accepted intervals of not more than three months.

6.3 Access

A representative of a union party to this agreement shall be entitled to enter at all reasonable times upon the premises for purposes related to the employment of its members or for purposes related to the union’s business or both. The representative shall enter at a reasonable time and in a reasonable way and comply with existing safety, health and security procedures and requirements apply in respect of the school.

6.4 Employment Relations Education Leave

Leave will be granted in accordance with Part 7 of the Employment Relations Act 2000.