Decisions on IR Commission cases welcomed

22/12/94

The State Government has scored two important wins in Industrial Relations Commission cases which allow it to continue its public sector restructuring program.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said the decision yesterday by the Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and a decision today by a Commissioner were victories for common sense.

"Effectively the decisions remove any impediment to the Government offering reasonable alternative employment to public sector workers moving from the public to private sector and allow transition payments of four to 12 weeks," Mr Kierath said.

"The Commission also ruled that if workers were not offered an alternative job, or declined a job offer, they were to be offered redeployment.

"I am delighted the Full Bench also recognised the Government's urgent request for a hearing for an appeal against the entire decision which granted an interim Federal award to the Miscellaneous Workers' Union and our application to vary the award to allow for public-to-private sector movement of employees."

Mr Kierath said the Full Bench hearing would be held in mid-February.

In today's decision, the Printing and Kindred Industries Union failed in its bid to get Federal award coverage for State Print workers with the Commissioner ruling that in view of the Full Bench decision of the previous day, he would not issue the orders sought by the union.

The Government agreed that the provisions applied by the Full Bench the previous day would be applied to State Print workers.

"I believe that yesterday's decision to vary the award augurs well for the State's chances in the hearing in February," Mr Kierath said.

Media contact:  Brian Coulter 222 9595 / 481 2133