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T4302

 

TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

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

Tasmanian Confederation of Industries
(T.4302 of 1993)

CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARD

 

PRESIDENT F. D. WESTWOOD

12 MAY 1993

Award variation - Structural Efficiency Principle - Clerical and Secretarial Staff and Teacher Aides

REASONS FOR DECISION

This application by the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries sought to vary Clause 8 Wage Rates, in respect of Clerical and Administrative Staff and Teacher Aides.

On behalf of the employers, it was submitted that these groups of employees were the last in the award to be processed under the Structural Efficiency Principle in the making of the new Catholic Education Award which commenced in 1991. The award had been granted special case status on 4 July 1991. The employers considered it was appropriate the rates of pay for these classifications should be adjusted to reflect accurately the changes in productivity and efficiency which had taken place. These changes included the increased incidence of computerisation and word processing; the increased level of responsibility and accountability now required in respect of budgets at the school level; and changed teaching methods impacting on the delivery of administrative and support services to teachers.

It was claimed that the insertion of the new additional duties allowance provision would permit clerical and secretarial staff to learn new skills, undertake new responsibilities and be remunerated for that extra work up to a limit of $1300 per annum, even if the extra duties were not sufficient to justify promotion to the next class. This provided the employer with greater flexibility and the employees with an incentive to increase their skill levels. An operative date of 1 April 1993 was requested.

The Tasmanian Catholic Education Employees Association supported the terms of the application. Both parties submitted that the proposed variations were in the public interest and did not offend the provisions of Section 36 of the Industrial Relations Act 1984.

I accept the submissions of the parties and approve the proposed variations to the award. An order will issue in due course reflecting this decision, together with the variations to the award arising from my decision in relation to Application T No. 4309 of 1993.

 

F. D. Westwood
PRESIDENT

Appearances:
Mr. W. J. FitzGerald with Father J. Williams for the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries
Mr. P. Bevilacqua for the Tasmanian Catholic Education Employees Association

Date and Place of Hearing:
1993:
Hobart
April 7