What is an Enterprise Bargining Agreement (EBA)?
Enterprise agreements are agreements made between employers and employees that contain terms and conditions of employment. They override the award and must be certified by the Fair Work Commission to be enforceable.
To be registered by the Fair Work Commission, the majority of the employees who will be covered by the agreement must vote in favour of accepting it and the agreement must provide for terms and conditions of employment that are better off overall than the provisions of the award.
Do EBA’s exist in pharmacy?
Yes, pharmacists working at National Pharmacies and HPS are covered by enterprise agreements. The vast majority of pharmacists working in hospitals are also covered by enterprise agreements.
What are the benefits of EBAs?
The Pharmacy Industry Award provides a safety net of minimum pay rates and employment conditions for pharmacists across the entire community pharmacy sector. An EBA sits above the award and sets out terms and conditions for a single enterprise, which builds upon the basic entitlements of the award. The advantage of enterprise agreements is that they can be tailored more precisely to the needs of the employer and employee in a specific enterprise. This results in productivity improvements for the business and a fairer share of the financial benefits of these improvements to employees.
In the sixth National Pharmacies EBA (2016), our members were at the forefront of defending penalty rates for their work on the weekends. Their campaign received national media attention as they successfully defended their existing working conditions in a very difficult environment.
Could I get an EBA at my workplace?
If you want an enterprise agreement at your workplace you will need the approval of 51% of the workforce, or the support of your employer. The EBA must be compliant with the Fair Work Act and must be certified by the Fair Work Commission.
Enterprise agreements can be negotiated with a single employer or one or more employers co-operating as a single enterprise.
Can Professional Pharmacists Australia help?
EBA’s can be negotiated for banner groups and partnerships, provided they are single enterprises under the Fair Work Act. PPA will provide initial advice and ongoing support for all our members who wish to begin bargaining at their workplaces.
If you think an EBA might be useful in your workplace,
contact us and get the support of our expert lawyers to help you negotiate with your employer.