TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.23 application for award variation

National Union of Workers, Tasmanian Branch
(T.5237 of 1994)

WHOLESALE PHARMACEUTICAL AWARD

New award - title and scope

REASONS FOR DECISION

This application, lodged by the National Union of Workers, Tasmanian Branch was for the purpose of making a new award. The original application sought the making of an award to be known as the Manufacturing Chemists Award, however, this was later varied to request a new award be made and to be known as the Wholesale Pharmaceutical Award.

The application is part of the structural efficiency programme arising out of the restructuring of the Chemists Award.

On 11 November 1994 the Commission made a new award titled the Retail Pharmacy Award. This application is intended to cater for the selling of pharmaceuticals by wholesale and the distribution thereof.

The parties described the wholesale pharmaceutical industry as -

"the wholesaling and/or distribution of pharmaceutical products in accordance with a licence issued under the Poisons Act 1971, and may include the wholesaling and/or distribution of other medicines and non-prescription pharmaceutical products and other goods".

This consent application is endorsed by the Commission as it is in keeping with the Wage Fixing Principles and specifically the Structural Efficiency Principle and it is more industry specific and will be designed to cater for the needs of the wholesale pharmaceutical industry.

The new award will be operative on and from 30 November 1994, however, until the wage rates and conditions of employment have been determined for this award, the Chemists Award should be observed in its entirety by those falling within its scope.

Having decided to establish this new award, it is now open to any registered organisation to seek an interest in the award in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1984. After determining which organisation have an interest in the award, the Commission will continue to hear submissions in respect of wage rates and conditions of employment.

R J Watling
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr D Strickland for the National Union of Workers, Tasmanian Branch.
Mr A Grubb for the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union.
Mr T Edwards for the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited.

Date and place of hearing:
1994
Nov 30
Hobart