Archive: May 12, 2020, 12:00 AM

Commission issued declaration that police bargaining has ended

Details  Created: 12 May 2020

The Public Service Arbitrator has issued a declaration under s 42H(1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA) (Act) that bargaining has ended for an industrial agreement to replace the Western Australian Police Industrial Agreement 2017.  

The applicant, the WA Police Union of Workers, made an application to the Commission for assistance in bargaining for the making of a new industrial agreement.

Since the commencement of the bargaining process, the Commission has convened eight compulsory conferences and the parties have met for the purposes of negotiation at least fifteen times. All five offers made by the respondent for a new industrial agreement were rejected by the applicant. Despite the endeavours by the parties and the Commission, the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

The Commission is empowered under s 42H(1) of the Act to declare bargaining between the parties has ended, as long as the Commission is satisfied as to a number of matters.

As the Arbitrator, Senior Commissioner Kenner, found that the applicant had bargained in good faith, bargaining had failed and there was no reasonable prospect of reaching an agreement, the Commission issued a declaration under s 42H(1) of the Act that bargaining had ended between the negotiating parties.

The decision can be read here.

Ex tempore decision was issued at the conclusion of proceedings on 29 April 2020.