The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) will hand down a decision in Melbourne shortly in the first real test of the High Court’s recent Electrolux ruling. In the case before the AIRC, the National Union of Workers (NUW) is attempting to certify an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) with dairy products manufacturer KL Ballantyne
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) will hand down a decision in Melbourne shortly in the first real test of the High Court’s recent Electrolux ruling. In the case before the AIRC, the National Union of Workers (NUW) is attempting to certify an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) with dairy products manufacturer KL Ballantyne. The application looks at what issues can be legally included in union wage deals, which is at the crux of the recent High Court decision which found the AIRC could only consider matters “pertaining to the employment relationship”. The Australian Industry Group applied to the AIRC for issues outside the direct employment relationship not to be included in union negotiations or deals approved by the Commission.
Union takes strike breaker claims to Commission
The Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) will launch a dispute in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) after it claimed that Qantas was actively training 170 ‘strike breakers’ to step in on short-term contracts in the case of industrial action. Qantas announced plans to move 400 international flight attendant jobs to London from June 2005 in a bid to cut costs by $18 million. However the FAAA said flight attendants had not been offered job security under Qantas’ plans, which gave the attendants grounds to strike once their enterprise bargaining agreement expires on 17 December. Qantas said the training was in accordance with enterprise agreements and that it had provided the FAAA with due notice of the training.
HR Matters partners with Australian Rugby
HR recruitment firm HR Matters recently held a luncheon with The Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) and Australian Rugby, for players to assist them with employment after their professional rugby careers. Players with an interest in banking and financial services met with senior HR executives from the banking and insurance industries at the luncheon. RUPA and Australian Rugby have developed a career training scheme and support program for professional rugby players, and HR Matters provides careers advice and services to players through the career training scheme. Further functions are planned with senior HR executives from other industry sectors relevant to players’ career aspirations.
