T6617
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TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION Industrial Relations Act 1984 North West Regional Water Authority NORTH WEST REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES AWARD
Award variation - salaries - classification structures - conditions of employment - consent matter - application granted - award varied - operative ffpp 1 March 1996 REASONS FOR DECISION This application was lodged by the North West Regional Water Authority (the applicant) for the purpose of varying the North West Regional Water Authority Employees Award pursuant to the Structural Efficiency Principle. This application came before the Commission as a consent matter. Ms Watt, representing the applicant, highlighted the deletions sought to the existing award1; the matters to be included in the restructured award2; and she referred the Commission to the translation process by which employees would be transferred to the proposed restructured award. It was submitted by Ms Watt, that the salaries for operational employees; administrative and clerical employees; technical employees; and professional employees were identical to those determined by the Commission for other public sector awards. Ms Watt said that the parties, during their restructuring negotiations, embarked on a process to develop a stand-alone award without any reference to other awards of the Commission; e.g. General Conditions of Employment Award. She indicated that the conditions of employment, contained in the draft Order submitted to the Commission, were derived from the General Conditions of Employment Award, the State Service Act and Regulations and the existing award. The submissions of Ms Watt were supported by Mr R Clegg, of The Community and Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation Tasmania), and Mr D Pyrke for The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia. Having heard the submissions of the parties, I am satisfied that the award should be amended in the manner sought as it: a) is consistent with other awards of the Commission; b) conforms with the wage fixing principles, especially the Structural Efficiency Principle; and c) brings together in one document all the conditions of employment. In arriving at my decision on this matter, I have also noted that little difference exists between the restructured award presented by the parties and those awards applying to other employees employed under the Tasmanian State Service Act. The Order giving effect to this decision is attached and will be operative from the first full pay period to commence on or after 1 March 1996, being the date requested by the parties for consistency with wage movements in other public sector awards.
R J Watling Appearances: Date and place of hearing:
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