Department of Justice

Tasmanian Industrial Commission

www.tas.gov.au
Contact  |  Accessibility  |  Disclaimer

T5881 T5882 and T5883

 

TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.23 application for award or variation of award

Minister for Public Sector Management
(T.5881 of 1995)
(T.5882 of 1995)
(T.5883 of 1995)

Clerical Employees Award
Scientific Officers Award
Technical Employees Award

 

FULL BENCH:
PRESIDENT F D WESTWOOD
DEPUTY PRESIDENT A ROBINSON
COMMISSIONER P A IMLACH

27 October 1995

Award variation - definitions - classifications - wage rates

REASONS FOR DECISION

These were applications by the Minister for Public Sector Management (the Minister) for variations to be made to the Clerical Employees Award, the Scientific Officers Award and the Technical Employees Award.

The variations sought by the Minister were submitted as being a positive attempt to improve the wording, layout and overall effect of the three awards. Some clauses were sought to be deleted because they were irrelevant or merely duplicated prescriptions set out in other regulatory instruments (eg the State Service Regulations).

In particular:

  • the Clerical Employees Award was to be re-named the Administrative and Clerical Employees Award and the Scientific Officers Award was to be re-named the Scientific Employees Award. The name of the Technical Employees Award remained unchanged;

  • the Parties and Persons Bound clauses were re-named and re-cast as the Award Interest and Parties Bound clauses which were said to be more in keeping with the Industrial Relations Act 1984.

  • the Conditions of Service clauses were re-named Conditions of Employment;

  • the New Appointments and Promotions clauses and the Qualifications clauses were deleted;

  • the Salaries clauses were reviewed to delete erroneous material and once more provide a single column of salary rates; and

  • the salary rates from the Keyboard Employees and Office Assistants Award were absorbed into the rates contained in the award to be known as the Administrative and Clerical Employees Award.

In seeking the proposed variations the Minister submitted that the amendments modernised the three awards and made them relevant. The Minister also submitted that the variations sought were in the public interest since they brought simplicity and better meaning to the three awards.

Initially, the Community and Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation Tasmania) whilst giving overall support to the Minister's application to vary the three awards, raised a number of minor concerns.

The Minister conceded the points raised by the Union and the revised applications were then put and agreed to by all parties.

The Commission accepts the proposals of the Minister on the basis that the improvements are self-evident and conform with the legislation. It is understood that an application to rescind the Keyboard Employees and Office Assistants Award will be made in due course.

Orders reflecting this decision will be issued by Deputy President Robinson.

 

Appearances:
Mr G Vines with Miss S Strugnell for The Community and Public Sector Union (State Public Services Federation Tasmania)
Mr C Willingham with Ms D Rallings for the Minister for Public Sector Management

Date and place of hearing:
1995
October 16
Hobart