T4743 and T4744
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TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION Industrial Relations Act 1984 The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, ABATTOIRS AWARD
Wage rates - Apprentices REASONS FOR DECISION These applications by The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, Tasmanian Branch (AMIEU) were joined for hearing purposes. The applications sought to vary the Abattoirs and Meat Trades Awards respectively to stipulate that apprentices not receiving accredited off-the-job training shall be paid in accordance with the relevant tradesperson's classification set out in Clause 8 - Wage Rates, of the respective awards. Mr Swallow for the AMIEU, supported by Mr Flynn for the Meat and Allied Trades' Federation of Australia (Tasmanian Division) (MATFA), submitted that there are circumstances in the industry where apprentices are not provided with the appropriate training. The intent of the variations is to ensure that where apprentices are not properly trained, but are nevertheless expected to carry out work comprehended in the classifications subject to clause 8, they are paid accordingly. The Commission was reassured by the parties that the Career Start Traineeship system would overcome circumstances whereby apprentices are employed but for whatever reasons do not receive accredited training. Mr Flynn indicated that in certain cases employers provide their own training but that this could only be recognised, having regard to the reference in the proposed variation to "accredited" training where the employer or the employee providing the training has undergone an appropriate training course. It is my understanding that the train the trainer courses envisaged by MATFA are of three days duration. Where apprentices are trained on the job, quite apart from accredited off-the-job training, it may be appropriate for those providing the training to undertake the course suggested by Mr Flynn. Whilst I have some reservation about the provisos requested to be inserted in the awards in question, I accept the thrust of the submissions of the parties that they will facilitate better training of apprentices and ensure that they are employed as such in every sense. The orders, operative from the first full pay period to commence on or after the date of this decision, are attached.
R.K. Gozzi Appearances: Date and Place of Hearing: |