AN160068 – Clerks (Unions and Labor Movement) Award 2004

25. TRADE UNION TRAINING LEAVE

(1) Subject to the provisions of this clause:

(a) The employer shall grant paid leave of absence to employees who are nominated by their union.

(b) Paid leave of absence shall also be granted to attend similar courses or seminars as from time to time approved by agreement between the parties.

(2) An employee shall be granted up to a maximum of five days’ paid leave per calendar year for trade union training.

(3) (a) Leave of absence will be granted at the ordinary rate of pay and shall not include shift allowances, penalty rates or overtime.

(b) Where a public holiday or rostered day off (including a rostered day off as a result of working a 38-hour week) falls during the duration of a course, a day off in lieu of that day will not be granted.

(4) Subject to subclause (3) of this clause shift employees attending a course shall be deemed to have worked the shifts they would have worked had leave not been taken to attend the course.

(5) The granting of leave pursuant to the provisions of subclause (1) of this clause is subject to the operation of the organisation not being unduly affected and to the convenience of the employer.

(6) (a) Any application by an employee shall be submitted to the employer for approval at least four weeks before the commencement of the course, provided that the employer may agree to a lesser period of notice

(b) All applications for leave shall be accompanied by a statement from the relevant union indicating that the employee has been nominated for the course. The application shall provide details as to the subject, commencement date, length of course, venue and the Authority which is conducting the course.

(7) (a) The employer shall not be liable for any expenses associated with an employee’s attendance at trade union training courses.

(b) Leave of absence granted under this clause shall include any necessary traveling time in normal working hours immediately before or after the course.