This sure sounds familiar to what we are facing in health care, and what some have suggested might be a good way to revamp the WC system — throw it in with the federal system. Watch out! Private employers could become part of FECA…
There’ll be a simpler and more efficient industrial relations system for South Australia’s private sector starting January 1, 2010, following legislation passed by State Parliament this week enabling this state to join the new, reformed national Industrial Relations (IR) system.
Industrial Relations Minister, Paul Caica, says the passage of the Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2009 is a major step forward for private sector workers and employers in this state.
“A key benefit of the national system is, for the first time, South Australian private sector employers and workers will have the one set of industrial relations laws to work with,” Caica said.
“For employers, participation in the national system will slash red tape, eliminate regulatory overlap and simplify and streamline compliance measures. It will be easier to do business in South Australia for both company resident here and those who trade across state borders. There will be better and clearer protections for workers who participate in workplace negotiations, access their rights, or who become members or delegates of the relevant union. Collective bargaining arrangements will be of particular benefit to low paid workers who will have access to the help of Fair Work Australia. The referral of certain IR powers to the Commonwealth will ensure that the SA Government and Parliament have a direct say in the industrial laws that apply to the whole community.”
SA has played a major role in creating a more streamlined IR system for the entire nation. “This state has been instrumental in developing this process and bringing the Commonwealth, states and territories together to progress this historic reform,” Caica continued. “With SA being the first state to agree to refer certain IR powers to the Commonwealth, the legislation drafted to allow it to do so has been used as a model for other Australian jurisdictions, including Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.”
In June, Caica announced that SA had reached in-principle agreement with the Federal Government to participate in the new system for the private sector. He said at the time that South Australia’s private sector participation in the national system had already been the subject of extensive and detailed consultations, and enjoyed general support across the employer and union spectrum. (workersxzcompxzkit)
Following passage of the legislation this week, Caica said that to ensure effective local and regional service delivery arrangements, SafeWork SA industrial staff would undertake a large number of education visits over the next three years to workplaces transferring from the state jurisdiction to the national system.
Author Robert Elliott can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.
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By: Anthony Van Gorp, private investigator with 25 years experience.
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