New Commonwealth industrial relations policy in tatters

27/5/94

The Federal Government's new industrial relations policy is in tatters.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said it was crystal clear that the legislation was unworkable because it failed to provide a basic right of all workers and employers - freedom of choice.

"There have been two major cases - one where the unions stepped in to scuttle major gains for workers and another here in Western Australia where the inflexibility of the new system resulted in the rejection of a workplace deal," Mr Kierath said.

"Add to that the move by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to take the fight to the International Labour Organisation, the challenge in the High Court by the States and the announcement by the Metal Trades Industry Association, one of the nation's most powerful employer bodies, that it has abandoned the industrial relations system.

"Only weeks after his legislation became law, Industrial Relations Minister Brereton announced that he would have to make changes.

"If he wants something which is working, he should study our Workplace Agreements legislation, which day-by-day is enabling employees to reach agreements despite union attempts to prevent them."

Mr Kierath said the case of Freport Maintenance and Engineering in Fremantle was typical of the types of disasters which would continue under the new Federal legislation.

The Industrial Relations Commission threw out a bid by the company to establish a non-union deal with its workers because the company was not tied to a Federal award.

"This company wants to be commercially competitive but the inflexibility of the Federal system has prevented this."

The Minister said another case in Victoria involving Able Demolitions was nothing short of a disgrace.

"The company negotiated a work deal with its employees which included pay rises of up to 17 per cent," Mr Kierath said.

"As per the Brereton law, the union was advised of the deal.  The union persuaded employees to change their minds and then slapped work bans on the company.

"The unions forced Brereton to give them a back-door method of control over the new industrial relations laws - it was a disaster waiting to happen.

"That disaster is now here."

Media contact:  Brian Coulter 222 9595 / 481 2133