TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

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

Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering,
Printing & Kindred Industries Union
(T7494 of 1998)

SHIPBUILDERS AWARD

Award variation - fifth minimum rates adjustment for non-trade classifications - order issued - operative ffpp 19.2.98

REASONS FOR DECISION

This application was lodged by the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing & Kindred Industries Union to vary Clause 8, Wage Rates, of the Shipbuilders Award by inserting the fifth minimum rates adjustment for non-trade classifications.

Mr Baker, representing the applicant union, submitted that the application formed part of the restructuring of the award insofar as it related to minimum rates adjustments. Trade classifications in the award, he said, had received the fourth and final minimum rates adjustment some eight months ago1.

Mr Baker submitted that the application was consistent with the wage fixing principles and did not offend the public interest considerations. He requested an operative date from the first full pay period to commence on or after 19 February 1998

Mr Cooper, representing the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Tasmanian Branch, supported the submissions of Mr Baker and supported the ongoing process of restructuring of the award to which Mr Baker had referred.

Mr Edwards, for the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited, said the Chamber consented to the application. He referred to an agreement between the parties in 1992 that the non-trade classifications would be subject to six minimum rate adjustments rather than the "standard" four, because, he said, the award had been allowed to fall into a "state of disrepair" and needed considerable adjustment to bring it up to a reasonable standard.

In supporting the application, he said it was consistent with the structural efficiency principles of the Commission, and with the public interest considerations required by the Act. He said there was consent to the operative date sought.

I accept the submissions of the parties and, for the reasons they outlined, I approve the variation which is reflected in the order attached. The new rates of pay take effect from the first full pay period commencing on or after 19 February 1998.

F D Westwood
PRESIDENT

Appearances:
Mr P Baker for the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing & Kindred Industries Union
Mr G Cooper for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Tasmanian Branch
Mr T Edwards for the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited

Date and place of hearing:
1998
February 19
Hobart

1 Decision T6976 - order operative ffpp 9.7.97