TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

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

Meat and Allied Trades' Federation of Australia
(Tasmanian Division)
(T.4576 of 1993)
(T.4577 of 1993)

MEAT TRADES AWARD [Correction Order]
ABATTOIRS AWARD

Award variation - career start traineeship

REASONS FOR DECISION

These applications, joined for hearing purposes, by the Meat and Allied Trades' Federation of Australia (Tasmanian Division) (MATFA) were to include Career Start Traineeship (CST) provisions in the Meat Trades Award and Abattoirs Award respectively. The objectives of CST are outlined in the applications in the following terms:

"(i)  The Career Start Traineeship scheme provides for the possibility of greater amounts of structured training time, longer periods of traineeship, through an enhanced Australian Traineeship System and provides a bridge to the new Australian Vocational Certificate Training System.

(ii)  The object of this clause is to provide for the terms and conditions of employment, including the rates of pay, applicable to persons engaged under the Career Start Traineeship Scheme.

(iii)  The purpose of these arrangements is to provide vocational training consistent with the needs of industry and general skills appropriate to the workforce, and to enhance the skill levels and future employment prospects of Career Start Trainees. This is to be achieved through various vocational educational and training pathways including a combination of work, education and structured training.

(iv)  An objective of this clause is to provide vocational education and training pathways that maximise credit transfer and articulation with higher level training opportunities.

(v)  It is the intention of the parties to encourage development of pilot projects and the implementation of the Australian Vocational Certificate Training System where the training system will be increasingly:

(1)  based on national competency standards endorsed by the National Training Board;

(2)  incorporating key competency training for early school leavers;

(3)  articulated and accredited and resulting in nationally recognised credentials; and

(4)  including pay rates based on competency rather than age, negotiated by the industrial parties.

(vi)  An objective of the Career Start Traineeship scheme is to provide additional employment and training opportunities for young people. Accordingly, these opportunities shall be provided to the fullest extent possible. Existing employees shall not be displaced from employment by Career Start Trainees."

Some other important features of the CST scheme include that Career Start Traineeships shall be:

"(1)  for Career Start Trainees with a Year 10 or lesser general education achievement - up to two years duration;

(2)  for Career Start Trainees who have completed Year 11 studies - up to 18 months duration; or

(3)  for Career Start Trainees who have completed Year 12 studies - of one years duration."

I am satisfied that the clauses sought to be included in the awards in question are consistent with the wage fixing principles. Also that they meet all of the public interest requirements specified in Section 36 of the Act.

Accordingly the variations are endorsed, operative from 15 November 1993. The orders are attached.

R.K. Gozzi
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr M. Flynn for the Meat and Allied Trades' Federation of Australia (Tasmanian Division).
Mr J. Swallow for The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, Tasmanian Branch.

Date and Place of Hearing:
1993.
Hobart:
November 15