As we noted in our previous update the Bill proposes to make many changes to the Employment Relations Act 2000, including:
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has now passed its second reading before Parliament.
No major changes appear to have come out of the reading, though some substantive aspects have been ‘clarified’.
Currently, employers may opt out of bargaining over a collective agreement that involves more than one employer (known as multi-employer collective agreements, or ‘MECAs’). The Government’s announcement indicated that this ‘opt out’ ability is still set to be repealed by the bill, but the new legislation will no longer compel these employers to settle a MECA, only to bargain for one.
The proposed provision allowing union representatives the right to access workplaces without the consent of the employer has also been clarified. This access without permission is to only apply during a period of collective bargaining or where it is otherwise provided for in the applicable collective agreement.
The Bill will now move to the Committee of the whole House before it is subject to a third reading, before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.
Stay tuned for further updates.
14.02.19 Incoming! Employment law changes ahead - the end of trial periods
23.01.19 Strong recognition in the 2019 Asia Pacific legal directories
02.10.18 Kensington Swan appoints new special counsel to our national employment team
12.09.18 First defended hearing under the Health and Safety at Work Act
07.08.18 WorkSafe’s position statement on bullying
22.05.18 What is 'work'?
09.04.18 Employment Law Bulletin featuring Charlotte Parkhill