Clothing Deal Knocked Back Over Lack of Info to NESB Employees

By CPD

The AIRC has refused to certify a clothing manufacturer's non-union agreement because of the inadequacies in information the company provided to its largely non-English speaking background employees

Cmr Whelan said that the employer, Epona, had made some efforts but that the communication program fell down due to lack of adequate follow-up. Also some of the employees were not given adequate opportunity to take part in the vote on the agreement. Some clauses failed the no-disadvantage test when measured against the Clothing Trades Award.

Epona Pty Ltd re Epona Enterprise Agreement 2002-2005, PR(931064 6/5/03)

(Thomson CPD Discrimination Alert; issue 183, May 20, 2003)