METAL TRADES (GENERAL) AWARD

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION

PARTIES Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Workers Union of Australia, Engineering and Electrical Division, WA Branch

APPLICANT

-v-

Anodisers WA AND OTHERS

RESPONDENTS

CORAM Commissioner S M Mayman

DATE MONDAY, 23 MAY 2011

FILE NO/S APPL 15 OF 2011

CITATION NO. 2011 WAIRC 00348

Result Award varied

Representation

Applicant Ms N Ireland

Respondents No appearance

Order

HAVING HEARD Ms N Ireland on behalf of the applicant and there being no appearance on behalf of the respondents, the Commission, pursuant to the powers conferred on it under the Industrial Relations Act 1979, hereby orders:

THAT the Metal Trades (General) Award be varied in accordance with the following Schedule and that such variation shall have effect from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 23 May 2011.

Commissioner S M Mayman

SCHEDULE

1. Clause 3.2 – Overtime:  Delete subclause 3.2.3(6) of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

(6) Subject to the provisions of 3.2.3(7), an employee required to work overtime for more than two (2) hours shall be supplied with a meal by the employer or be paid $11.85 for a meal and, if owing to the amount of overtime worked, a second or subsequent meal is required, the employee shall be supplied with each such meal by the employer or be paid $8.05 for each meal so required.

2. Clause 4.8 – Wages and Supplementary Payments:

A. Delete subclause 4.8.2(1) of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

4.8.2 (1) Leading Hands:

In addition to the appropriate total wage prescribed in this clause, a leading hand shall be paid per week –

B. Delete subclause 4.8.6(1) of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

(1) Where an employer does not provide a tradesperson or an apprentice with the tools ordinarily required by that tradesperson or apprentice in the performance of work as a tradesperson or as an apprentice the employer shall pay a tool allowance of:

(a) $15.00 per week to such tradesperson; or

(b) in the case of an apprentice a percentage of $15.00 being the percentage which appears against the year of apprenticeship in 4.8.3;

for the purpose of such tradesperson or apprentice supplying and maintaining tools ordinarily required in the performance of work as a tradesperson or apprentice.

C. Delete subclause 4.8.7 of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

4.8.7 An employee employed in rock quarries, limestone quarries or sand pits shall be paid an allowance of $24.20 per week to compensate for dust and climatic conditions when working in the open and for deficiencies in general amenities and facilities, but an employee so employed for not more than three days shall be paid on a pro rata basis.

This subclause shall not apply to employees employed by Cockburn Cement Limited.

3. Clause 5.2 – Special Rates and Facilities:  Delete this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

5.2.1 Height Money:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of $2.50 for each day on which the employee works at a height of 15.5 metres or more above the nearest horizontal plane, but this provision does not apply to linespeople nor to riggers and splicers on ships and buildings.

5.2.2 Dirt Money:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of 53 cents per hour when engaged on work of an unusually dirty nature where clothes are necessarily unduly soiled or damaged or boots are unduly damaged by the nature of the work done.

5.2.3 Grain Dust:

Where any dispute arises at a bulk grain handling installation due to the presence of grain dust in the atmosphere and the Board of Reference determines that employees employed under this Award are unduly affected by that dust, the Board may, subject to such conditions as it deems fit to impose, fix an allowance or allowances not exceeding 90 cents per hour.

5.2.4 Confined Space:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of 64 cents per hour when, because of the dimensions of the compartment or space in which the employee is working, the employee is required to work in a stooped or otherwise cramped position, or without proper ventilation.

5.2.5 Diesel Engine Ships:

The provisions of 5.2.2 and 5.2.4 do not apply to an employee when the employee is engaged on work below the floor plates in diesel engine ships, but the employee shall be paid an allowance of 90 cents per hour whilst so engaged.

5.2.6 Boiler Work:

An employee required to work in a boiler which has not been cooled down shall be paid at the rate of time and one-half for each hour or part of an hour so worked in addition to any allowance to which the employee may be entitled under 5.2.2 and 5.2.4.

5.2.7 Hot Work:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of 53 cents per hour when the employee works in the shade in any place where the temperature is raised by artificial means to between 46.1 degrees and 54.4 degrees Celsius.

5.2.8 (1) Where, in the opinion of the Board of Reference, the conditions under which work is to be performed are, by reason of excessive heat, exceptionally oppressive, the Board may -

(a) fix an allowance, or allowances, not exceeding the equivalent of half the ordinary rate;

(b) fix the period (including a minimum period) during which any allowance so fixed is to be paid; and

(c) prescribe such other conditions, relating to the provision of protective clothing or equipment and the granting of rest periods, as the Board sees fit.

(2) The provisions of 5.2.8(1) do not apply unless the temperature in the shade at the place of work has been raised by artificial means beyond 54.4 degrees Celsius.

(3) An allowance fixed pursuant to paragraph 5.2.8(1) includes any other allowance which would otherwise be payable under this clause.

5.2.9 Tarring Pipes:

The provisions of 5.2.2 and 5.2.4 do not apply to an employee engaged in tarring pipes in the Cast Pipe Section but the employee shall, in lieu thereof, be paid an allowance of 86 cents per day whilst so engaged.

5.2.10 Percussion Tools:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of 31 cents per hour when working a pneumatic riveter of the percussion type and other pneumatic tools of the percussion type.

5.2.11 Chemical, Artificial Manure and Cement Works:

An employee, other than a general labourer, in chemical, artificial manure and cement works, in respect of all work done in and around the plant outside the machine shop, shall be paid an allowance calculated at the rate of $13.20 per week.  This allowance shall be paid during overtime but shall not be subject to penalty additions.  An employee receiving this allowance is not entitled to any other allowance under this clause.

5.2.12 Abattoirs and Tallow Rendering Works:

An employee, employed in and about an abattoir or in a rendering section of a tallow works shall be paid an allowance calculated at the rate of $17.30 per week.  The allowance shall be paid during overtime but shall not be subject to penalty additions.  An employee receiving this allowance is not entitled to receive any other allowance under this clause.

5.2.13 An employee who is employed at a timber sawmill or is sent to work at a timber sawmill shall be paid for the time there engaged a disability allowance equivalent to what the majority of the employees at the mill receive under the appropriate Award.  The allowance shall be paid during overtime but shall not be subject to penalty additions.  An employee receiving this allowance is not entitled to receive any other allowance under this clause with the exception of that prescribed in 5.2.1 - Height Money.

5.2.14 Phosphate Ships:

An employee shall be paid an allowance of 76 cents for each hour the employee works in the holds or 'tween decks of ships which, immediately prior to such work, have carried phosphatic rock, but this subclause only applies if and for as long as the holds and 'tween decks are not cleaned down.

5.2.15 An employee who is sent to work on any gold mine shall be paid an allowance of such amount as will afford the employee a wage not less than he or she would be entitled to receive pursuant to the Award which would apply if such employee was employed in the gold mine concerned.

5.2.16 An employee who is required to work from a ladder shall be provided with an assistant on the ground where it is reasonably necessary for the employee's safety.

5.2.17 The work of an electrical fitter shall not be tested by an employee of a lower grade.

5.2.18 Special Rates Not Cumulative:

Where more than one of the disabilities entitling an employee to extra rates exists on the same job, the employer shall be bound to pay only one rate, namely - the highest for the disabilities prevailing.  Provided that this subclause shall not apply to confined space, dirt money, height money, or hot work, the rates for which are cumulative.

5.2.19 Protective Equipment:

(1) An employer shall have available a sufficient supply of protective equipment as, for example, goggles (including anti-flash goggles), glasses, gloves, mitts, aprons, sleeves, leggings, gumboots, ear protectors, helmets, or other efficient substitutes thereof) for use by employees when engaged on work for which some protective equipment is reasonably necessary.

(2) An employee shall sign an acknowledgement when issued with any article of protective equipment and shall return that article to the employer when finished using it or on leaving employment.

(3) An employee to whom an article of protective equipment has been issued shall not lend that article to another employee and if the employee does, both employees shall be deemed guilty of wilful misconduct.

(4) An article of protective equipment which has been used by an employee shall not be issued by the employer to another employee until it has been effectively sterilised but this paragraph only applies where sterilisation of the article is practicable and is reasonably necessary.

(5) Adequate safety gear (including insulating gloves, mats and/or shields where necessary) shall be provided by employers for employees required to work on live electrical equipment.

5.2.20 (1) Subject to the provisions of this clause, an employee whilst employed on foundry work shall be paid a disability allowance of 38 cents for each hour worked to compensate for all disagreeable features associated with foundry work including heat, fumes, atmospheric conditions, sparks, dampness, confined spaces, and noise.

(2) The foundry allowance herein prescribed shall also apply to apprentices and unapprenticed juniors employed in foundries; provided that where an apprentice is, for a period of half a day or longer, away from the foundry for the purpose of receiving tuition, the amount of foundry allowance paid to the employee shall be decreased proportionately.

(3) The foundry allowance herein prescribed shall be in lieu of any payment otherwise due under this clause and does not in any way limit an employer's obligations to comply with all relevant requirements of Acts and Regulations relative to conditions in foundries.

(4) For the purpose of this subclause 'foundry work' shall mean -

(a) Any operation in the production of castings by casting metal in moulds made of sand, loam, metal, moulding composition or other material or mixture of materials, or by shell moulding, centrifugal casting or continuous casting; and

(b) where carried on as an incidental process in connection with and in the course of production to which 5.2.20(4)(a) applies, the preparation of moulds and cores (but not in the making of patterns and dies in a separate room), knock out processes and dressing operations, but shall not include any operation performed in connection with -

(i) non-ferrous die casting (including gravity and pressure);

(ii) casting of billets and/or ingots in metal moulds;

(iii) continuous casting of metal into billets;

(iv) melting of metal for use in printing;

(v) refining of metal.

5.2.21 An employee, holding a Third Year First Aid Medallion of the St. John Ambulance Association or a "C" Standard Senior First Aid Certificate of the Australian Red Cross Society, appointed by the employer to perform first aid duties, shall be paid $10.40 per week in addition to the employee's ordinary rate.

5.2.22 An electronics tradesperson, an electrician - special class, an electrical fitter and/or armature winder or an electrical installer who holds and, in the course of employment may be required to use, a current "A" Grade or "B" Grade license issued pursuant to the relevant Regulation in force on the 28th day of February 1978 under the Electricity Act 1945, shall be paid an allowance of $21.60 per week.

PART 2 – CONSTRUCTION WORK

4. Clause 13 – Wages:  Delete subclauses 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6 of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

13.4 Construction Allowance

(1) In addition to the appropriate rates of pay prescribed in this clause an employee shall be paid:

(a) $48.20 per week if the employee is engaged on the construction of a large industrial undertaking or any large civil engineering project.

(b) $43.30 per week if the employee is engaged on a multi-storeyed building, but only until the exterior walls have been erected and the windows completed and a lift made available to carry the employee between the ground floor and the floor upon which such employee is required to work. A multi-storeyed building is a building which, when completed, will consist of at least five storeys.

(c) $25.50 per week if the employee is engaged otherwise on construction work falling within the definition of construction work in Clause 1.6 - Definitions and Classification Structure of PART 1 - GENERAL of this Award.

(2) Any dispute as to which of the aforesaid allowances apply to particular work shall be determined by the Board of Reference.

13.5 Leading Hands

In addition to the appropriate total wage prescribed in this clause a leading hand shall be paid:

13.6 (1) Where an employer does not provide a tradesperson or an apprentice with the tools ordinarily required by that tradesperson or apprentice in the performance of work as a tradesperson or as an apprentice, the employer shall pay a tool allowance of –

(a) $15.00 per week to such tradesperson; or

(b) in the case of an apprentice a percentage of $15.00 being the percentage which appears against his or her year of apprenticeship in 4.8.3 of Clause 4.8 – Wages and Supplementary Payments of PART 1 - GENERAL (subject to Clause 12.2 Apprentices of PART 2) of this Award,

for the purpose of such tradesperson or apprentice supplying and maintaining tools ordinarily required in the performance of his or her work as a tradesperson or apprentice.

(2) Any tool allowance paid pursuant to 13.6(1) shall be included in, and form part of, the ordinary weekly wage prescribed in this clause.

(3) An employer shall provide for the use of tradespersons or apprentices all necessary power tools, special purpose tools and precision measuring instruments.

(4) A tradesperson or apprentice shall replace or pay for any tools supplied by his or her employer if lost through his or her negligence.

5. Clause 15.1 – Special Allowances and Provisions: 

A. Delete subclause 15.1.2(2) of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

(2) Subject to 15.1.3 where the employee's tools or working clothes are lost by fire or breaking and entering whilst securely stored in the place provided by the employer under 15.1.2(1) the employer shall reimburse the employee for that loss but only up to a maximum of $831.00.

B. Delete subclause 15.1.4 of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

15.1.4 An Electronics Tradesperson, an Electrician Special Class, an Electrical Fitter and/or Armature Winder or an Electrical Installer who holds, and in the course of employment may be required to use, a current "A" Grade or "B" Grade license issued pursuant to the relevant regulation in force on the 28th day of February 1978 under the Electricity Act 1945, shall be paid an allowance of $21.60 per week.

6. Clause 15.4 – Special Provision – Western Power:  Delete subclause 15.4.2 of this clause and insert the following in lieu thereof:

15.4.2 In addition to the wage otherwise payable to an employee pursuant to the provisions of PART 2 - CONSTRUCTION WORK of this Award, an employee (other than an apprentice) shall be paid -

(1) $2.15 per hour for each hour worked if employed at Muja;

(2) $1.26 per hour for each hour worked if employed at Kwinana;

(3) a safety footwear allowance of eleven (11) cents per hour for each hour worked to compensate for the requirement to wear approved safety footwear which is to be maintained in sound condition by the employee.  Failure to wear approved safety footwear or to maintain it in sound condition as determined by the employer shall render the employee liable to dismissal.