Employment and Workplace Relations

The Greens (WA) view work as something which should be rewarding, enriching and the basis of our families’, communities’ and state’s welfare and prosperity. We believe that workplace laws should be fair, protect all workers from unjust treatment and unsafe conditions. Industrial laws should facilitate industrial harmony and uphold the rights of workers to organise collectively to negotiate fair pay and conditions.

Goals

 
The Greens (WA) want:

• strong, independent and accessible industrial relations tribunals which assist the parties in resolving workplace conflict when it occurs and can arbitrate where necessary
• fair and equitable statutory minimum conditions of employment that reflect the standards of a socially just society
• a comprehensive award system providing a genuine safety net of wages and conditions and genuine right to bargain collectively
• safe workplaces free from occupational hazards
• workplaces that are free from discrimination
• workplaces with democratic management and flexible and innovative work practices which can achieve win-win situations for employers and employees

Initiatives

The Greens (WA) will initiate and support legislation and actions that:

• maintain and enhance strong independent Industrial Relations Commissions at a state and federal level to ensure impartial resolution of workplace issues over a broad range of industrial issues
• implement an ongoing state funded education campaign to inform employees of their rights at work and to ensure employers gain at least a general awareness of their obligations as an employer about appropriate wage and award coverage, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity principles, workers compensation and sound human resource principles
• provide a comprehensive statutory framework protecting the right to collective bargaining, the role of unions to negotiate on behalf of workers and the right of workers to take industrial action
• phase out any form of statutory individual employment agreements in favour of collective agreements, whether by enterprise specific agreements or an award
• ensure adequate statutory protection for workers categorised as subcontractors by extending the definition of employee to include all types of workers who have an economic dependence upon an ‘employer’ and allow industrial relations commissions to deal with these matters
• amend legislation to clearly define casual and part time work with a view to preventing abuse of casual status
• require employers to inform new and existing employees that they are entitled to join a union where coverage exists, and of the unions responsible for the sector
• ensure that there are adequate statutory minimum conditions of employment including but not limited to rates of pay, hours of work, leave entitlements including access to paid parental and carers leave, redundancy provisions, regular hours for part time workers, minimum call out times and rates for casual employees
• establish equal remuneration for work of equal value
• implement measures to close the gender pay gap
• promote pay equity in all sectors of the workforce
• require employers to provide a clear statement of employment conditions written in plain English
• ensure unions have right of entry to workplaces and access to records to ensure that entitlements have been met
• ensure that all workers have access to an independent tribunal such at either the state or federal level for determination of unfair dismissal claims and enhance the capacity of the Commission to award fair compensation
• ensure that independent industrial advocates and advisers are made available to those employers and employees without access to advocacy through a business association or union
• ensure that relevant training is made available to all workers without loss of pay as part of their job description including apprentices, trainees, part-time and casual employees
• provide incentives to employers to enable non-English speakers to learn English on the job
• facilitate the introduction of democratic management practices in work places
• ensure adequate protection of workers entitlements
• prohibit employers from using two dollar "shelf companies" and similar accounting devices for avoiding payment of worker entitlements when going bankrupt, or    shifting their operations overseas to avoid compensation claims to workers
• only nationally harmonise workplace relations, workers compensation and occupational health and safety laws where Western Australian workers will be fully protected
• include the recognition of ‘industrial manslaughter’ as a fundamental component of the Occupational Health and Safety system
• establish minimum employment standards for trainees and apprentices and promote incentives and requirements where appropriate for employers to engage and train apprentices and trainees
• ensure that relevant training and skills development is made available to all workers, including apprentices, trainees, part-time and casual employees, without loss of pay
• review current Free Trade Agreements and require all new ones to ensure overseas companies are subject to Australian employment laws and labour standards
• develop rural and regional employment development programs and strategies in conjunction with rural and regional communities
• develop a rural public and community transport program to overcome distance issues as a barrier to gaining and maintaining employment

Background
Industrial relations and employment laws and policies have undergone enormous change in the last few years, particularly with the previous federal government's Work Choices legislation. The Western Australian parliament has lost much of its jurisdiction to make workplace laws for many employees and workers in Western Australia. There is still a great deal of confusion about jurisdiction which needs to be resolved. The federal government is intent on harmonising at a national level, employment, workplace and occupational health and safety laws potentially further reducing the jurisdiction of State parliaments. However, State parliaments still have an important role in ensuring national legislation is fair and protecting and enhancing where it can the rights of workers.

Western Australia is experiencing favourable economic conditions and a very low official unemployment rate. However, despite this there is still significant unemployment in certain groups, as well as, underemployment and people struggling to live on their wages. Many families struggle to find a decent work/life balance working either overly long hours or unsociable hours. Family and community life is suffers from these sorts of working arrangements.

The Greens (WA) believe we can have a strong sustainable economy with workplace fairness.