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T257

 

IN THE TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984

 

T No 257 of 1985 IN THE MATTER OF an application by the NORTH WEST REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY to vary the NORTH WEST REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES AWARD

RE: INTRODUCTION OF A 38 HOUR WEEK

   
COMMISSIONER R J WATLING 6 NOVEMBER, 1985
   
   

REASONS FOR DECISION

   
APPEARANCES:  
   
For the North West Regional
Water Authority
- Mr M Jarman with
  Mr B G Jacobson
   
For the Tasmanian Public
Service Association
- Mr P Mazengarb
   
DATE AND PLACE OF HEARING:
 
5 November, 1985    Hobart
 

Mr Jarman, representing the North West Regional Water Authority, sought through this application to introduce a 38 hour week for Operational and Temporary Non-Operational staff employed under the terms of the North West Regional Water Authority Employees Award.

In opening his submission, Mr Jarman tendered an exhibit (J1) which contained:-

1 The offsets for day workers.
2 The costings for day workers.
3 The offsets for shift workers.
4 The costings for shift workers.

The offsets submitted for both day and shift workers were:-

1 Payment by cheque.
2 Adherence by employees to start and finish times.
3 Employees to wash-up and change in their own time.
4 Employees to take morning and afternoon team [sic] at a time which will not effect the continuity of plant operations.

It was estimated by Mr Jarman that the total cost of implementing a 38 hour week for all employees (14 day workers, 7 shift workers) was $16,126.

The estimated saving through the introduction of the offsets was $14,541, thus making the final cost of introducing the 38 hour week $2,146.

This, Mr Jarman said, represents a cost of 0.05% of the total salary bill of the Authority's workforce (estimated at $433,000 per annum), and represents 0.63% of the total salary bill for the employees represented by this application.

Mr Jarman then spent some time informing the Commission of the Award variations required to give effect to the agreement reached between the Authority and the Tasmanian Public Service Association for the introduction of the offsets.

Mr Mazengarb, representing the Tasmanian Public Service Association endorsed the submission made by Mr Jarman.

DECISION

After hearing the submissions and examining the agreement reached by the parties I am satisfied that the application falls within the criteria established under the Wage Fixation Principles and, in particular, Principle 5.

In my view the cost offsets achieved by changes in work practices will mean that shorter hours for the employees in question could be introduced with minimal cost.

I am also of the view that the agreement does not offend the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1984.

For these reasons I grant the claim.

The Order giving effect to this decision is attached.

Operative Date: As from the first full pay period to commence on or after 6 November, 1985.

 

R J WATLING
COMMISSIONER