Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:25:28.393Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Administered Flexibility: Restructuring the Metal Industry Award

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

David Plowman*
Affiliation:
Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of New South Wales
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In recent years National Wage guide-lines have attempted to facilitate the implementation of a system of “administered flexibility”. The Efficiency and Restructuring Principle adopted in March 1987, and the Structural Efficiency Principle adopted in August 1988, have been the major instruments of this attempt. In different industries and enterprises these principles have resulted in differing outcomes and approaches. In some industries, such as the chemical, steel and aluminium industries, restructuring has taken place at a company and/or enterprise level. In other industries such as metal fabrication, road transport, building and construction, a “blue-print” industry approach has been adopted. This paper examines award restructuring in such a “blue-print” industry.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1990

References

Amalgamated Metal Workers Union (AMWU) (1987), National Council Paper, 11/3/87.Google Scholar
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) (1988), Discussion Paper: A Draft ACTU Blueprint for Changing Awards and Agreements, ACTU, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) (1987a), National Wage Case Decision, March 1987, Print G6800.Google Scholar
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (1987b), Statement by Deputy President Keogh, 28/5/87 (No. 1180 of 1987).Google Scholar
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (1988), National Wage Case Decision, August. Print H4000.Google Scholar
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (1989a), National Wage Case Decision, February, Print H8200.Google Scholar
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (1989b), National Wage Case Decision, August, Print H9100.Google Scholar
Committee for Economic Development (CEDA) (1987), How has Business Handled Second Tier Negotiations? — Survey Results, Sydney.Google Scholar
Confederation of Western Australia Industry (CWAI) (1987), Survey of Second Tier Wage Negotiations, CWAI, Perth.Google Scholar
Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) (1990), Report on the Operation of the Restructuring and Efficiency Principle, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
DIR/MTIA/MTFU (1988), “Toward a New Metal and Engineering Industry Award”, The Report of the DIR, MTFU and MTIA Mission to UK, Sweden and West Germany, Sydney.Google Scholar
Electrical Trades Union (ETU) (1988), Metal Industry Restructure: The ETU Position, ETU, Sydney.Google Scholar
Evans, B. (1988), “Proposals for Award Restructuring'”, Address to MTFU Conference, Issues for 1988, Canberra.Google Scholar
McDonald, T., Rimmer, M. (1988), “Award Restructuring and the Second Tier”, Australian Bulletin of Labour, Vol. 14, No. 3.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Federation of Union (MTFU) (1987), Wages Newsletter, No. 2, June.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Federation of Unions (1988a), “Problems Confronting the Australian Economy: Implications for Metal Workers”, Paper prepared for National Conference Issues 1988, Canberra.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Federation of Unions (1988b), The Metal Engineering Industry Standard: the Next Step. Proposals for Establishing a New Meal and Engineering (Federal) Award, MTFU, Sydney.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia (1986), MTIA Proposals for a Compact with the Metal Unions, MTIA, Sydney, December.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia (1987a), Proposal for a Compact Between MTIA and MTFU: MTIA Response to MTFU Draft Proposals Dated 31 March 1987, MTIA, Sydney.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia (1987b), Explanatory Booklet: The Keogh Framework, MTIA, Sydney.Google Scholar
Metal Trades Industry Association and Engineer Employers Association, South Australia (1988), Award Restructuring in the Metal and Engineering Industry: The Way to Proceed, MTIA, Sydney.Google Scholar
MTFU National Negotiations Committee (1988a), The MTFU Claim for Wage and Award Restructuring Summary”, 14/4/88, Sydney.Google Scholar
Plowman, D.H. (1990), “Award Restructuring, Possibilities and Portents”, The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 1(1), pp 1540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plowman, D.H., Niland, J.R. (1990), “Australia”, Bulletin of Comparative Labour Relations, No. 19, pp 119143.Google Scholar
Rimmer, M., Zappala, J. (1988) “Labour Market Flexibility and the Second Tier”, Australian Bulletin of Labour, Vol. 14, No. 4.Google Scholar