QUBE update- agreement reached

After 2 weeks of intense negotiations with QUBE Management, your RTBU negotiating team has finally reached agreement on terms suitable for a replacement instrument to the 2019 Enterprise Agreement. A fair compromise position was reached based on Delegate, workplace activist, and your feedback yesterday afternoon at the 11th hour. Yesterday was the last day of Post Declaration Negotiation Period before this matter was to be referred to the Fair Work Commission for arbitration of pay and conditions. 

Resolving this matter now means that employees will receive back-pay and pay increases as soon as possible. 

Your Delegates should be thanked for making so many phone calls, emails and messages within the last few days to make sure feedback was quickly received on the offers put on the negotiation table in a tense and dynamic environment. 

 What is the key terms of the Deal? 

• Back pay from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 of 5.6% on all hours worked in this period; 

• Back pay from 1 April 2024 to 21 May 2025 of 4.4% on all hours worked in this period; 

• Starting from yesterday (22 May 2025) a starting rate of 18.5% of your current rate of pay under the 2019 Agreement – i.e. for a Level 4 this is an increase from $51.45ph to $61.00ph. 

• 1 November 2025 4.5% pay rise 

• 1 November 2026 4% pay rise 

• 1 November 2027 4% pay rise 

• Clause 4.2 will refer that the rates of pay are Loaded Rates moving forward only. 

• Rolling-back the undiscussed changes that QUBE made after the June 2023 in-principle agreement; 

• Federal Court Underpayment and Class Action Litigation remains ongoing. 

What Happens Next? 

Your will not receive backpay and your pay rates will not be adjusted until the Deal is made by the Fair Work Commission. 

Both parties are reviewing your new Agreement, and this will be completed by Wednesday of next week. It will then be sent to the Fair Work Commission and will likely be made by the Commission shortly thereafter. Back pay and pay increases will then be processed. 

The Fair Work Commission will check that this new Agreement passes the BOOT Test, and the terms of the Agreement will become an enforceable Workplace Determination shortly after that. There is no need for a further vote. 

Congratulations to all members that stood strong throughout the entire long, drawn-out bargain including those being Locked out for 2 weeks by QUBE Management. 

Further updates will be provided as this matter progresses. 

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