Government IR changes being utilized by the Unions

The unions are utilising two key areas of the new IR legislation changes:

• Multi-Employer Enterprise Agreements (Single Interest Authorisation)
  

• Utilization of the Same Job – Same Pay provisions for labour-hire employees (a regulated labour-hire arrangement orders)
  

Utilization of the Multi-Employer Enterprise Agreements (MEEA)

The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists, and Managers is seeking an MEEA with Five Employers in the Black Coal Industry. The union has narrowed the coverage of the MEEA to include several essential classifications critical to the businesses' operations, giving the union maximum leverage.

Due to its significance, the case has attracted several intervening parties (Minerals Council and the ACTU), and the matter has been referred to a full bench.

A number of technical arguments are being mounted against the Multi-Employer Enterprise agreement authorization, such as whether the employees truly understood what they were voting for. 

Utilization of Same Job – Same Pay provisions for Labour-hire employees (Regulated Labour-Hire Arrangement Order)

The Mining Employees Union (MEU) has launched two applications for Regulated Labour Hire arrangements orders against several labour hire companies providing workers at the host employer. The MEU is seeking the same rates and conditions for the labour hire employees as the host employers' Enterprise Agreements.

Due to its significance, one of the cases has been referred to a Full Bench and will have a range of interveners. Similar to the above-mentioned matter, any decisions will provide guidance.

The outcomes of these two cases will be eagerly awaited as they will set precedents for employers in these two critical areas of the government's changes. The decisions will have a significant impact as precedents.