TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s23 application for award or variation of award

The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering,
Printing and Kindred Industries Union
(T6944 of 1997)

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE PRODUCTION STAFF AWARD

Award variation - name change - restructuring of award - consent matter - operative ffpp 30 June 1997

REASONS FOR DECISION

This application was made under Section 23 of the Industrial Relations Act 1984 by The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (the AFMEPKIU) and it sought variations in the Government Printing Office Production Staff Award (the Award).

The variations sought were quite extensive and, apart from the current vogue for the restructuring of awards generally, a principal stimulant for the changes sought in this application was the State Government's corporatisation of the State Government Printing works which in essence meant that the operation was renamed the Printing Authority of Tasmania and it was required to conduct its business as though it were a private enterprise.

In the context of this revamped situation the AFMEPKIU sought the following variations to the Award:

· A new title for the Award, the Printing Authority of Tasmania Award (the renamed Award).

· The terminology in some places to be changed and improved and more consistent wording to be introduced.

· A new definition, Mutual Agreement, to be inserted.

· In the Salaries clause, provision to be made for the clerical staff by the insertion of a clerical stream salary scale which was to include detailed classification standards. There was to be no change to the production staff salary amounts.

· A new Consultation and Communication Framework clause was to be introduced.

· A new More Responsible Duties Allowance clause was to be introduced.

· The Commission's model Support Wage System clause was to be introduced.

· The Hours of Work clause was to be changed and a Flexible Working Hours clause was to be introduced: the AFMEPKIU highlighted the mutual agreement provisions in the clause to be amended.

· The Call Back clause was to contain more details, but, in essence it was to reflect the original provisions transferred from the Overtime clause provisions.

· The Overtime clause was to include additional references consistent with the advent of the clerical staff provisions.

· A new Redundancy Payments clause was to be introduced.

· A new Competency Based Career Structure clause was to be introduced and was in preparation for training changes expected in the industry following Federal developments.

· A new Annual Leave clause was to be introduced: it was taken from the State Service Regulations with minor changes: except a new formula for calculating the allowance to be paid on a termination of employment for specified reasons was to be introduced.

· The Annual Leave Loading clause was based on the Recreational Leave Allowance in the previous award and was to be adjusted to accommodate the introduction of the clerical employees provisions.

· The following new clauses, taken directly from the (State Service) General Conditions of Employment Award, were to be introduced also:

The AFMEPKIU advised the Commission that negotiations between the parties, culminating in this application, had taken place over a period of three and a half years.

The AFMEPKIU submitted that the application was within the Wage Fixing Guidelines of the Commission, especially the Structural Efficiency Principle, and its endorsement was not against the public interest.

The AFMEPKIU requested that the claimed variations be made to commence operation from the first full pay period on or after the date of the decision.

The Community and Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation Tasmania) (the CPSU) supported the submissions of the AFMEPKIU and, in particular, pointed out that, under the proposed amendments:

· Clerical employees would have access to the Higher Duties Allowance.

· Time off in Lieu of Overtime (TOIL) would be available at overtime rates.

· The Clerical Stream provisions were taken directly from the State Service provisions. It was noted that progression through the Clerical Stream was by review and not automatic progression.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (the Chamber) confirmed its consent to the proposed variations and submitted that they were not against the Wage Fixing Guidelines of the Commission nor the public interest. The Chamber also requested that the variations be made to come into operation from the first full pay period on or after the date of the decision.

Decision

I accept the submissions of the parties. The Award will be amended as requested and will commence to operate from first full pay period to commence on or after 30 June 1997.

An order is attached.

P A Imlach
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr S Walsh for The Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union
Mr R Miller for The Community and Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation Tasmania)
Ms J Thomas (29.05.97), Mr M Watson with Mr G Priestley, Mr T Morley and Mr P Courto (17.06.97), for the Printing Authority of Tasmania.

Date and place of hearing:
1997
May 29
June 6
June 17
Hobart