‘Three key areas’ for industrial law reform

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 40

‘Three key areas’ for industrial law reform

Industrial law reform in three key areas is needed to protect workers’ interests and ensure that the labour market functions fairly and equitably, says the Clerical Workers’ Union. In a submission to the Royal Commission on Social Policy, the union said most of the calls for reform of the labour market would harm, rather than help workers. It expressed concern at moves to end protection in the interests of labour market flexibility because, it said, women were so dependent upon legislation for protection. Instead, the union

wanted: • Re-introduction of the right of unions to seek compulsory arbitration. • Repeal of section 152 of the Labour Relations Act which allowed employers to take groups out of award coverage in certain circumstances. • Removal of union membership questions > from the bargaining area. The national secretary of the union, Mr John Slater, said the lack of an arbitration provision in the new legislation clearly disadvantaged unions with scattered memberships because the. union had difficulty in organising members into taking in-

dustrial action. At present, industrial action was often the union’s only option during disputes with employers, he said Mr Slater warned that unless amended, section 152 of the Labour Relations Act might see the start of a two-tier workforce, with first class workers having award protection and guaranteed pay rates and second class workers with neither. The union was also opposed to allowing employers a say on the question of union membership.