Printing Industries has had a second major win in as many weeks in the Fair Work Commission defeating a union attempt tore-introduce a previously expired state workers compensation clause and on a national basis. The clause would have potentially cost businesses thousands of dollars on top of their existing workers compensation obligations.
Printing Industries general manager, Workplace Relations and Legal Services (WRLS) Charles Watson, said that prior to the end of 2014, NSW and Victorian companies under the pre-modern industry awards (Graphic Arts General Award and Country Publishing and Printing Award) had a Make-up Pay requirement for employees.
“This meant the companies in those states only had to make-up the difference between the workers compensation weekly payment and the employees’ pre-injury earnings for between 26 to 39 weeks, depending on geographic factors,” he said.
“Although this requirement faded out of the Modern Awards at the end of 2014 in spite of strong opposition from the ACTU and AMWU, the unions had applied to the Fair Work Commission for its re-introduction, this time on a national level.
“Our WRLS team opposed this move, strongly argued that there was no merit in the claim and that attempting to introduce a significant national standard within the industry was not fitting given the modern award objectives and the impact on the industry. The Fair Work Commission agreed and the application was defeated,” he said.
The win followed another recent success as part of the Four Year Award Review during which Printing Industries defeated an AMWU application to provide time-off in lieu of overtime at the overtime rate rather than the current time-for-time rate.
“These claims, had they been successful, would have placed a significant and unnecessary financial strain on companies for many years to come. Our work with the support of our members has ensured that this does not occur,” Watson said.
“Even from a purely bang for buck point of view, taking into account the partial tax deductibility of their membership and these recent results, companies have effectively just had their memberships costs covered for the next couple of years.”