AN160268 – Public Service Award 1992

36. - UNION FACILITIES FOR UNION REPRESENTATIVES

(1) The employer recognises the rights of the union to organise and represent its members. Union representatives in the agency have a legitimate role and function in assisting the union in the tasks of recruitment, organising, communication and representing members' interests in the workplace, agency and union electorate.

(2) The employer recognises that, under the union's rules, union representatives are members of an Electorate Delegates Committee representing members within a union electorate. A union electorate may cover more than one agency.

(3) The employer will recognise union representatives in the agency and will allow them to carry out their role and functions.

(4) The union will advise the employer in writing of the names of the union representatives in the agency.

(5) The employer shall recognise the authorisation of each union representative in the agency and shall provide them with the following:

(a) Paid time off from normal duties to perform their functions as a union representative such as organising, recruiting, individual grievance handling, collective bargaining, involvement in the electorate delegates committee and to attend union business in accordance with clause 37 - Leave to Attend Union Business of the Award.

(b) Access to facilities required for the purpose of carrying out their duties. Facilities may include but not be limited to, the use of filing cabinets, meeting rooms, telephones, fax, email, internet, photocopiers and stationery. Such access to facilities shall not unreasonably affect the operation of the organisation and shall be in accordance with normal agency protocols.

(c) A noticeboard for the display of union materials including broadcast email facilities.

(d) Paid access to periods of leave for the purpose of attending union training courses in accordance with Clause 38 - Trade Union Training Leave of the Award. Country representatives will be provided with appropriate travel time.

(e) Notification of the commencement of new officers, and as part of their induction, time to discuss the benefits of union membership with them.

(f) Access to awards, agreements, policies and procedures.

(g) The names of any Equal Employment Opportunity and Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare representatives.

(6) The employer recognises that it is paramount that union representatives in the workplace are not threatened or disadvantaged in any way as a result of their role as a union representative.