August 2002
Welcome to the fourth issue of our newsletter!
The newsletter is published every three months by the ATSI Unit and provides Aboriginal communities with information, stories and updates on happenings within the world of industrial relations.
What has happened since the last newsletter?
Two Rivers Survey
A survey was attached to the last newsletter to find out what you thought of the newsletter's content, structure and format.
The response to that survey so far has been great! The general consensus is that the newsletter is just the right length and the content has been excellent.
Your feedback is important and will help us improve this newsletter. So, if you haven't already done so, please complete the form and send or fax it in to us.
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Changes since the last newsletter
Carers Discrimination - Legal Requirements
A recent amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee or an applicant for employment on the ground of carers' responsibilities for a family member.
This includes caring for a parent, child, spouse, defacto partner, same sex partner, grandchild, grandparent and sibling in need of the particular person's care and support.
Employers are required to reasonably accommodate the caring responsibilities of employees by providing special arrangements that assist an employee to do the essential things the job requires, at the same time as managing their carering responsibilities.
State Wage Case 2002
On Friday the 31 May 2002, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission handed down its decision in the State Wage Case. The Commission agreed to increase NSW State Awards by $18.00 per week. This pay rise will apply to workers across the State who are employed under NSW state awards and who haven't received an increase through enterprise bargaining.
However, organisations responsible for each State award will need to apply to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in order to have the increase included in their award.
New E-mail Update Service
The NSW Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) has just introduced a free e-mail update service to keep you up-to-date with new additions to its website.
This is a valuable service for those who need to keep in touch with industrial relations developments in NSW.
You have three e-mail update lists to choose from:
- What's New ? lists all major website updates (with the exception of Awards Online which is currently under development)
- Newsletters lets you know when the next issue of the Department's quarterly newsletters, New Workplace and Two Rivers are published.
- Behind the Label keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments in the NSW Government's strategy to improve the work and lives of home-based clothing workers (outworkers) in NSW.
To register, just click on 'e-mail update' at the top of the OIR Website at www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au, and follow the prompts.
ATSI Unit Regional Visits
Over the next six months, the ATSI Unit will be visiting a number of regional centres in NSW, where we hope to meet with as many indigenous people and organisations as we can.
During our visit we hope to tell you more about the services of the OIR and the ATSI Unit. We will also be on hand to help you with questions on employment issues, such as:
- rates of pay
- employment conditions and work practices
- leave entitlements
- payslips and employment records.
Over the next few weeks we will be calling and writing to our many readers of Two Rivers in the Mid-North Coast to tell them about our first regional visit to Kempsey on 22 August 2002.
To find out more about our visit to Kempsey, or other regional visits, please contact Rae or Chris on (02) 9020 4618.
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OIR Unit Profile
Over the next three issues of Two Rivers we will profile the services provided by other sections of the Office of Industrial Relations.
Workplace Advice
Workplace Advice provides practical advice and information to employers and employees on a range of employment related issues.
The Unit helps small business employers deal with employment issues, particularly where they do not have specialist human resource staff.
Workplace Advice provides a telephone advice service, produces publications and coordinates seminars, workshops and forums on all aspects of employment.
For more information on dates and locations of upcoming seminars please call Workplace Advice on (02) 9020 4611.
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Handbooks on Employment Issues
- The Small Business Employer's Handbook is an invaluable reference for employers outlining some of the major provisions contained in NSW awards and other NSW employment related legislation. The cost is $22.00.
- Enterprise Bargaining in NSW is a practical step by step guide for parties involved parties involved in developing and negotiating an enterprise agreement under the NSW Industrial Relations Act 1996. The cost is $11.00.
- Joint Consultation is a practical guide to setting up a consultative committee, explaining how the consultative process works and the roles of both management and employee representatives. The cost is $11.00.
You can buy any of these publications from the OIR's Information Services Team on (02) 9020 4533.
© NSW Department of Industrial Relations 2002. All rights reserved.
Phone: 131 628
| Award Enquiries
©Office of Industrial Relations, NSW Department of Commerce
