Glass Industry Update

No: 65 -15th September 2009

Securing your employees future

Contents

1.     UNION LETTER TO AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION (AIRC)

This week the CFMEU are asking employers to write a letter to President Giudice of the AIRC,  (which no longer exists, it is now Fair Work Australia), requesting that employers ask to be covered by the new Joinery Award, not the Manufacturing Award.  Employers have not been told the full story in this instance, as even the Union proposal will have the industry operating under two awards.

The Award Modernisation process being undertaken by Fair Work Australia in Victorias case has deleted the Glass Merchants and Glazing Contractors Award from 1 January 2010.  Despite submissions made by GGAV and the CFMEU to keep the Glass Award failed and as such will not be applicable from 1 January 2010 and will potentially be replaced by 3 awards. in brief these are;

Firstly the Manufacturing Award which would apply to glass work such as manufacture, laminating, toughening, edge-working, bevelling cutting etc.

Secondly the Joinery Award could be applied to the manufacture of windows, Office partitions and some of the above categories.

Thirdly when outside the factory the Construction Award will apply.

The above situation where up to three awards can apply to one person who undertakes may of the tasks outlined above often happens in our members businesses.

Scope - It must be recognised that under award modernisation any new awards will apply Australia Wide, and as such the GGAV does not stand alone.  Consideration is being given to the above issues and the matter has been raised with the AGGA national committee and requires more discussion before a submission is made to Fair Work Australia.

Accordingly the Industry are advised not to sign the CFMEU letter until a recommendation is mage by AGGA.

If you have any queries contact Don Blanksby on info@ggav.org.au