TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.23 application for award or variation of award

Association of Draughting, Supervisory and Technical Employees,
Tasmanian Branch
(T.2315 of 1990)

and

Tasmanian Confederation of Industries

DRAUGHTING AND TECHNICAL OFFICERS (PRIVATE INDUSTRY) AWARD

Wage Rates - State Wage November 1989 - Structural Efficiency Principle Second Stage

REASONS FOR DECISION

In this matter the Association of Draughting, Supervisory and Technical Employees (ADSTE) sought the variation of the Draughting and Technical Officers (Private Industry) Award to give effect to the second instalment structural efficiency adjustment.

Mr Baker appearing for ADSTE informed the Commission that the proposals for structural efficiencies in the award were by consent and that the proposals in their entirety satisfied the requirements of the Structural Efficiency Principle.

Mr Brotherson appearing for the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries (TCI supported the thrust of the submissions made by the applicant which are summarised as follows:

· A new classification structure and career path based on the acquisition of skills, training and educational requirements has been derived from the ADSTE model for draughting and technical employees and is as set out in the Metal Industry Award.

· The new classification structure provides a career path for the progression of employees from Draughting Assistant Level 1 and Technical Assistant Level 1 (semi skilled) through the Draughting Technician levels to the Principal Draughting Officer, Level 1 classification which is at 160 percent of the Base Tradespersons rate.

The issue of minimum rates adjustment (Appendix 1 to this decision) has been addressed having regard to the Base Rate of $407 per week for the Base Tradespersons' classification (adopted in the 30 October 1989 State Wage Case decision) and the relativities between that rate and those contained in the career structure for this award.

The classification structure and the relativities to the tradespersons' rate are set out hereunder.

OUTLINE OF THE NEW CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE

As the above classification structure will not become operative until April 1992, at which time an application to vary the award will be required, the structure will form part of the award as Appendix A.

Accordingly as a first step the existing award rates were requested to be adjusted by the second structural efficiency adjustment together with the first instalment minimum rates adjustment operative from the first full pay period to commence on or after 11 October 1990.

I have decided, as indicated to the parties in the proceedings, to vary the award in the manner requested as the structural initiatives for the award provide an appropriate career path for employees.

This aspect together with a range of award changes to conditions of employment has given rise to a sustainable structural efficiency package able to be supported by the Commission. The changes to conditions of employment are as follows:

• Clause 8 - Wage Rates - a new provision to enable the negotiation of an amount of salary in excess of the award rate to compensate in whole or part for entitlements which would accrue when performing Holiday or Sunday Work, Mixed Function, Overtime and Shift Work;
• the inclusion of specific flexibility provisions in Clause 13 Contract of Employment;
• the inclusion of a Disputes and Grievance Procedure;
• the ability to take broken leave in two separate periods neither of which is at least twenty one consecutive days, or in three separate periods.
• increase in the daily Spread of Hours to facilitate twelve hour shifts.
• the inclusion of a Structural Efficiency clause which contemplates, as well as other measures, the establishment of enterprise consultative mechanisms designed to identify further efficiency and productivity measures able to be brought forward to the Commission in the form of agreements pursuant to Section 55 of the Industrial Relations Act 1984.

In addition the parties have agreed to a review award Clause 23 Notification of Classification and inform the Commission of the outcome no later than 11 April 1991.

A new training clause to be included in the award encapsulates, in my opinion the approach of the parties in this matter which was a recognition by them that industry must strive for increased efficiency and productivity and that training of employees is of vital importance in that regard.

The order giving effect to this decision is attached.

R K Gozzi
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr P Baker for the Association of Draughting, Supervisory and Technical Employees, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr K Brotherson for the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries.

Date and place of hearing:
1990:
Hobart
March 21
September 17
October 11, 19.

Appendix 1

TABLE 1

October 1990, 2nd SEP Adjustment
1st Minimum Rates Adjustment

TABLE 2

April 1991, 2nd Minimum Rates Adjustment

TABLE 3

October 1991, 3rd Minimum Rates Adjustment

TABLE 4

Final Position - April 1992, Final Minimum Rates Adjustment