Employers should not be forced to fund union activity in the workplace, says the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA).
AREEA was responding to recent news reports that the Federal Government is proposing laws to give union delegates more muscle.
CEO Steve Knott said the development was concerning for resources and energy employers which already faced rising costs and productivity challenges.
“The Government appears to be seeking to turn union delegates into union officials,” Mr Knott said.
“There should always be a separation between the two.
“Employees can be union delegates but they are employed by the company, not the union. Their primary focus should always be performing the role they are paid to do by their employers.
“The reported proposal is effectively a ruse to have employers saddle the cost for a new wave of industrial activism. They should not have to fund and facilitate de facto union officials within their workforces.”
In a recent address, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke confirmed the plans to enhance and enshrine the rights of union delegates.
This would include greater privileges and protections for delegates to advance union interests and conduct union business in the workplace.
In a second proposal, the Government is reportedly looking to amend laws to allow union officials access to workplaces to investigate suspected wage underpayments – without the currently required 24-hour notice.
Mr Knott said the prospect of unions conducting snap inspections of pay records rang alarm bells with members.
“Workplaces in the resources sector are not in a position to respond to unnotified union site entry demands,” he said.
“These are major industrial sites where induction and safety protocols need to be followed – visitors can’t just roam around.”
On top of moves to boost delegate powers and entitlements in legislation, Mr Knott noted unions were already demanding a raft of new privileges and protections – with penalties for non-union labour.
Under the Electrical Trades Union NSW’s latest pattern agreement, electricians will have to pay $785 to join the union or $1500 to do a “training course” to unlock $7000 in extra pay per year.
As well, the employer must pay elected union delegates a $2.94 an hour allowance while they work on site.
If the employer wants to sack a delegate, they must engage in a mandatory 10-day consultation with the employee and union.
A majority of the workforce must also approve any company decision to transfer the delegate offsite.
“Agreement clauses that financially penalise workers for not joining unions clearly offend longstanding freedom of association principles,” Mr Knott said.
“Under both Australian and international law, persons are free to become, or not become and/or be represented by unions.
“What we’re seeing here are underhanded strategies to encourage compulsory union membership.
“This is highly concerning. AREEA will be closely watching the development of these types of claims in the resources and energy sector.”