T1062

IN THE TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984


T. 1062 of 1987		IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY THE AUSTRALASIAN MEAT INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES UNION TO VARY THE MEAT TRADES AWARD

		RE: 4% SECOND TIER INCREASE

COMMISSIONER R.K. GOZZI		HOBART, 11 May 1988

REASONS FOR DECISION

APPEARANCES:

For the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, Tasmanian Branch		- Mr J Swallow

For the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association of Australia, Tasmanian Division		- Ms D. Moncrieff

For the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, Tasmanian Branch		- Mr J. Lynch


For the Meat and Allied Trades Federation of Australia, Tasmanian Division and the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries		- Mr T J Edwards with Mr M. Flynn

DATE AND PLACE OF HEARING:

11 March 1988 8 April 1988 5 May 1988	Hobart Hobart Hobart

This matter concerns the variation of the Meat Trades Award to incorporate a 4% second tier increase for all classifications other than clerks.

After an initial "wobbly" start to the proceedings regarding appropriate offsets, the parties were able to present to the Commission an agreed offset package made up as follows

	Offset	% Costing
(i)	Reduction in smoko time by 10 minutes per day.	1.21

(ii)	Elimination of all wash-up time in the employer's time (10 minutes per day)	1.21

(iii)	Electronic funds transfer for payment of wages.	1.00

(iv)	Disputes procedure	.50

(v)	Extension to the spread of hours to 4.00 am to 7.00 pm Monday to Wednesday and 4.00 am to 9.00 pm Thursday and Friday	.50

The total costed savings amount to 4.42%.

The finalisation of this matter concludes major award proceedings in the Meat Trades and Abattoirs Awards concerning second tier increases and the introduction of a 38 hour week.

There has been a close and intense scrutiny of working arrangements across all sectors of the meat industry.

I am satisfied that what has been able to be achieved, as detailed in my various preceeding decisions in matters1 concerning the introduction of shorter working hours and the 4% second tier increase in this award and the Abattoirs Award, will enhance the efficient operation of the industry as a whole.

In this instant matter the result of the offsets accord with the intent of the wage fixing principles as they relate to efficiency and restructuring and I am pleased to endorse the current award variation giving effect to the 4% wage increase.

The operative date will be from the beginning of the first pay period to commence on or after 5 May 1988.

The parties are to be commended, given the long hearings and the frequency of them, that they have, notwithstanding the occasional explosive exchanges encountered in proceedings, been able to amicably conclude this matter.

My order giving effect to my decision is attached.

RK Gozzi
COMMISSIONER

1 T.617 and T.619 of 1986, and T.1062 and T.1063 of 1987

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