TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

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

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union
(Tasmanian Branch)
(T.2974 and T.2973 of 1991)

and

Federated Clerks Union of Australia
(Tasmanian Branch)
(T.2527 and T.2552 of 1990)

ABATTOIRS AWARD
MEAT TRADES AWARD

Structural Efficiency Principle - second stage

REASONS FOR DECISION

These applications by The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, Tasmanian Branch (AMIEU) were for the variation of the Meat Trades Award (T.2973 of 1991) and the Abattoirs Award (T.2974 of 1991) to reflect the second instalment structural efficiency adjustment.

Applications by the Federated Clerks Union of Australia, Tasmanian Branch (FCU) which were before the Commission for the same purpose were joined with the above matters. The FCU applications were identified as T.2552 of 1990 (Meat Trades Award) and T.2527 of 1990 (Abattoirs Award).

In the proceedings Mr Swallow for the AMIEU submitted that given the participation of the AMIEU in the federal meat industry enquiry, the Commission should endorse the second instalment structural efficiency increase.

He elaborated that the AMIEU has-

"...a commitment on a national level and at a Tasmanian branch level to continue negotiations on all aspects of the national enquiry"

and later

"The talks will continue. I'd have a guess to say that given the next 2 or 3 months (it) will be finalised and

at that time or a little bit before the Tasmanian employers and the union will branch off on whatever direction we think is beneficial to the meat industry in Tasmania."

Transcript p.73

In support of the AMIEU position in these proceedings Mr Swallow also submitted that the Commission should award the second instalment efficiency adjustment, as was the case in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission where Deputy President Riordan granted the increase on 19 February 1991. Exhibit AMIEU 1.

It is a matter of record that the Commission declined to grant the increases requested by the AMIEU. I considered that insufficient material was placed before the Commission to enable it to conclude that the object of the Structural Efficiency Wage Fixing Principle had been satisfied to the extent that the variation sought by the AMIEU could be sustained.

In previous structural efficiency decisions³⁴ in respect of the Meat Trades Award and Abbattoirs Award I outlined the initial approach to structural efficiency of the employer parties to those awards. In addition I appended the employers agenda to the Commission's decision of 8 May 1991 (T.2373/74 of 1990) which I considered to be appropriate to the structural efficiency review of the awards in question.

In the event I recommend to the parties that they progress the structural efficiency review of the Meat Trades Award and the Abattoirs Award in much greater depth than what was the case in these proceedings.

These matters are also adjourned sine die and will be relisted at the request of any of the parties.

R K Gozzi
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr J Swallow and Mr P Jenkins (30/4/91) for The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr G Warn for the Transport Workers' Union of Australia, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr A Grubb for the Federated Clerks Union of Australia, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr M Clifford for the Building Workers Industrial Union of Australia (Tasmanian Branch).
Ms S Pavlic for the Australasian Society of Engineers, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr T Edwards with Mr S Clues (9/8/90), Mr G Carnie, Mr M Flynn (30/4/91), Mr O Jak (30/4/91) and Mr J Kelly (30/4/91) for the Tasmanian Confederation of Industries and the Meat and Allied Trades Federation of Australia (Tasmanian Division).

Date and Place of Hearing:
1990
Hobart
August 9
1991
Hobart
April 30