U3: AOS2 (Workplace Relations) Flashcards
1) What is a Trade Union?
2) What is its role?
1) An organisation formed to represent and protect the rights of workers in a particular industry.
2) To protect the rights of workers through negotiating bargains, arguing cases, providing support, and providing services on their behalf.
1) What is an Employer Association?
2) What is its role?
1) Groups of employers who unite to provide a range of advice to employers and represent their interests on employee relations issues.
2) To represent and protect the rights of employers.
1) What is a Human Resource Manager?
2) What is its role?
1) Managers who maintain the professional relationship between an employer and employee.
2) To maintain a peaceful and productive workplace through negotiations with unions, participation in dispute resolution processes, and acting as an intermediary between employee unions and employer associations.
1) What is the Fair Work Commission?
2) What is its role?
1) Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal/industrial court.
2)
- Creating/maintaining a safety net of minimum wages and working conditions.
- Providing assistance with resolution of workplace disputes.
- Providing support for enterprise bargaining.
What are awards and enterprise agreements?
Awards: Legally binding minimum requirements for wages and conditions applying to specific industries.
Enterprise agreements: Agreements made between one or more employers and two or more employees concerning contract details and terms of employment.
How do awards determine wages and conditions of work?
- Outlines and enforces minimum wages, working conditions, holidays/leave, penalty rates, procedures for resolution and termination, annual leave.
How do enterprise agreements determine wages and conditions of work?
- Specifies the set working conditions, hours, and other tailored agreements of employment via bargaining and negotiation.
What is the dispute resolution process?
The formal, systematic process that permits employees to complain about matters that affect them at work.
What are the steps of the dispute resolution process?
1) Employee and representative meet w/ management to outline and discuss problem.
2) Management try to solve problem, if not, is referred to senior management.
3) If still no resolution, dispute is referred to independent body for mediation.
4) If mediation fails, matter is referred to FWC (Fair Work Commission) for conciliation.
5) If conciliation fails, matter is arbitrated by FWC (make legally binding decision).
What is mediation?
An independent body guides parties in discussing issues and reaching an outcome together.
What is conciliation?
An independent body guides parties in decision-making process, inputting possible solutions and outcomes.
What is arbitration?
An independent arbitrator/court determines how the dispute is to be resolved through a legally-binding decision.
