Industrial Relations Law & Lawyers

All organisations and industries are affected by Industrial Relations law issues. The very fact that an organisation engages staff leads to duties to comply with ever changing legal obligations, and to balance those duties against operating a working environment which allows staff morale and performance to flourish. The effective resolution of these issues demands a blend of legal knowledge and practical business awareness, tailored to the employers industry and culture. Our Employment and Industrial Relations lawyers support employers with these issues across a wide range of industries and sectors.

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of Industrial Relations Law or employment law, please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

Australia’s workplace relations laws - Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs)

Since the 1990s, significant changes have been introduced to Australia’s workplace relations laws. Current legislative reform seeks to maintain a strong safety net for employees while at the same time providing greater flexibility and choice for employers and employees at the workplace level.

In March 2008, the Australian Government introduced transitional measures to phase out key provisions in the existing workplace relations laws (the Workplace Relations Act 1996, the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 and the Workplace Relations Amendment (A Stronger Safety Net) Act 2007). Notable among these reforms is the phasing out of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard sets out the statutory minimum terms and conditions of employment that apply under the federal workplace relations system.

If you need legal help regarding any aspect of Industrial Relations Law, please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

Presently, the guaranteed legislated minimum entitlements are:

• minimum rates of pay and casual loadings.
• maximum ordinary hours of 38 hours per week (plus reasonable additional hours)
• four weeks of paid annual leave (with an additional week for shift workers)
• ten days of paid personal/carer’s leave (with provision for two additional days of unpaid carer’s leave and two additional
  days of paid compassionate leave per occasion)
• 52 weeks of unpaid parental leave (which may be taken as maternity, paternity or adoption leave)

Fair Work Australia

Fair Work Australia is the national workplace relations tribunal. It is an independent body with power to carry out a range of functions relating to:

• the safety net of minimum wages and employment conditions
• enterprise bargaining
• industrial action
• dispute resolution
• termination of employment
• other workplace matters.

Industrial Relations Lawyers

Industrial Relations Lawyers recognise that good industrial relations are key to a successful business. The requirement that employers must consult employee bodies on a wider range of matters than ever before means that effective communication and liaison with such bodies and trade unions is increasingly important.

Industrial Relations Lawyers can advise on:

• managing relationships with trade unions and employee consultative bodies
• dealing with trade union recognition applications
• strategies for working with trade unions
• strategy, communications and representation before the commission
• avoiding or managing industrial action and its consequences
• works councils, information and consultation committees and other representative bodies – including structures, election processes, confidentiality and training of managers and employee representatives
• employment legislation, such as the Public Service Act, the Workplace Relations Act, the Fair Work Act,
• the Commonwealth long service leave legislation
• anti-discrimination laws
• transitional issues associated with repeal of the Workplace Relations Act
• draft, negotiate and interpret enterprise agreements, individual employment contracts, determinations under the Public
• Service Act and consultancy agreements
• advise on appointments, workers’ compensation, disciplinary matters, underperformance matters, workplace discrimination,
• termination of employment and redundancy
• occupational health and safety
• provide specialist advocacy before disciplinary tribunals, courts and Fair Work Australia
• advise and assist with employment and industrial relations issues associated with outsourcing, privatisation and machinery of government changes
• advise and assist with employment disputes.

If you need legal representation regarding any aspect of Industrial Relations Law, please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

Further Resources - Industrial Relations Law & Lawyers