Contributions Policy

Contributions policy

This contribution policy replaces any and all prior Branch subscriptions and contributions policies.

The payment frequency categories for contributions made by CWU Central Branch members is set out below and shall be payable in equal payments, in advance, either;

  • Fortnightly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly as the Branch may determine; or
  • weekly or fortnightly when the member has signed an authority for either the employer to deduct the dues from his/her salary or a financial institution to transfer funds via a Direct Deposit or other transfer of funds as provided for by the Branch from the member’s account to the Union and the authority remaining effective.

Postal Services Industry Section

(1) The basic rate of contribution for members of the Postal Services Industry Section pursuant to Rule 46A (a)(i) shall be $503.90 per annum.

The rate of contribution for members within this industry section shall be applied as follows:

  • Employed more than twenty‑five (25) hours per week shall be set at one hundred per cent (100%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (1) above;
  • Employed from fifteen (15) hours to twenty‑five (25) hours per week shall be set at fifty per cent (50%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (1) above;
  • Employed for less than fifteen (15) hours per week shall be set at twenty-five per cent (25%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (1) above.

Lines & General and Telecommunications & Information Technology Industry Sections

(2) The basic rate of contribution for members of the Lines & General and Telecommunications & Information Technology Industry Section, pursuant to Rule 46 (a)(ii), shall be $547.05 per annum.

The rate of contribution for members within this industry section, shall be applied as follows:

  • Members enrolled within the Category (A), Category (B) and TSCA (non-insurance rate) membership categories or employed more than twenty‑five (25) hours per week within the Lines & General Category, shall be set at one hundred per cent (100%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (2) above;
  • Members enrolled within the TSCA (insurance rate) category, shall be set at a total of $199.55, in addition to one hundred per cent (100%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (2) above.
  • Members enrolled within the Category (C) membership category or employed fifteen (15) hours to twenty‑five (25) hours per week within the Lines & General Category, shall be set at fifty per cent (50%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (2) above;
  • Members enrolled within the Category (D) membership category or employed less than fifteen (15) hours per week within the Lines & General Category, shall be set at twenty-five per cent (25%) of the basic contribution rate specified in (2) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this determination, the Branch Committee of Management is authorised to:

  • Waive the entrance fee prescribed by Divisional Rule 36(b);
  • Determine to introduce a Branch levy in accordance with the Rules of the union for the purpose of meeting direct expenditure costs associated with member insurance benefits, purchasing benefits and wage campaigns;
  • Following verification upon application, in accordance with the Rules of the Union, waive for a predetermined period the payment of contributions by a member who may be on leave without pay;
  • Provide for a ten per cent (10%) discount on contributions where financial members pay membership contributions twelve (12) months in advance, as at 1 July in each year at the contribution rate prevailing at that time.
  • Discount subscriptions by 50% for members who receive less than the adult minimum rate of pay or for the duration of employment under apprenticeship or traineeship levels.
  • Provide for retired members to continue as associate members of the union at an administration subscription rate of $50 per annum that shall increase by $1 annually as from 1 July in each year.
  • Introduce, solely for the purpose of promoting recruitment, a lesser rate of subscriptions in a new recruitment area for a period not exceeding twelve (12) months.

Membership Subscription Adjustments

The assessment of the basic contribution rates, specified in (1) and (2) above, shall be undertaken at the commencement of each year’s quarter. The basic contribution rate shall increase in the following manner:

  • Postal Services Industry Group: at the same percentage rate as provisioned for prescribed wage rises in the Enterprise Agreement, negotiated by the Division, applicable to employees of Australia Post;
  • Lines & General and Telecommunications & Information Technology Industry Groups: at the same percentage rate as provisioned for prescribed wage rises in the Enterprise Agreement, negotiated by the Division, applicable to employees of Telstra and its subsidiaries.

Adjustments to subscriptions shall occur in accordance with the following:

  1. In such circumstances where members have chosen to pay membership subscriptions quarterly, six monthly or annually in advance ‑ on and from the first day of the quarter following the expiration of the period in relation to which the payment is made in advance; or
  2. in respect of all other members ‑ on and from the 1st day of the quarter after the quarter in which the assessment was undertaken.

The amounts calculated above shall be adjusted to the nearest amount capable of equal weekly or fortnightly deductions.

In calculating the amounts of new subscriptions, the amounts will be rounded up to the nearest five (5) cents.

The Branch Secretary shall advise all relevant employers of any variation to the rate of contributions by the end of the first month of the quarter on which the variation is assessed.