CONDUCT ELECTRICAL PTY LTD ENTERPRISE BARGAINING AGREEMENT 2004
AG 144 of 2004
1.TITLE
This agreement shall be known as the Conduct Electrical Pty Ltd Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2004.
2.ARRANGEMENT
1.Title ...... 2
2.Arrangement ...... 2
3.Area and Scope ...... 2
4.Parties Bound ...... 3
5.Date and Period of Operation ...... 3
6.Application of Agreement ...... 3
7.Consultative Committee ...... 4
8.No Extra Claims ...... 4
9.General Provisions ...... 4
10.Superannuation...... 4
11.Income Protection...... 5
12.Inclement Weather...... 5
13.Occupational Health and Safety...... 7
14.Dispute Procedure...... 8
15.Smoking...... 8
16.Objectives of Agreement...... 8
17.Training...... 9
18.Measure to Achieve Gains in Productivity, Efficiency and Flexibility10
19.Annexure One...... 16
20.Annexure Two...... 22
21.Signatories...... 25
3.AREA AND SCOPE
This Agreement shall apply to commercial construction projects only within the electrical contracting sector of the building and construction industry that takes place within the State of Western Australia.
For clarification:
Construction work means a work on site in or in connection with:
(a)The construction of a large industrial undertaking or any large civil engineering project;
(b)The construction or erection of any multi-storey building; and
(c)The construction, erection or alteration of any other building, structure, or civil engineering project which the Employer and the Union agree, in the event of disagreement, which the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission declares to be construction work for the purposes of this Agreement.
Project means the limits of an area of a site that “the Company” is contracted to work under and can be clarified via specific project scope of work documents.
4.PARTIES BOUND
This Agreement is made this first day of August 2004 between:
- Conduct Electrical Pty Ltd (“the Company”);
- The Employees of the Company engaged in work on commercial building works as described in Clause 3. – Area and Scope (hereinafter called “the Employees”);
- The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Workers Union, Engineering and Electrical Division, WA Branch;
- This agreement shall apply to approximately 15 employees.
5.DATE AND PERIOD OF OPERATION
This Agreement shall operate from 1st August 2004 and shall remain in force until 31st October 2005.
6.APPLICATION OF AGREEMENT
6.1The Wage schedules in this agreement shall apply to all commercial construction projects only or where a specific project or site agreement is applicable to work undertaken by the company and the terms of that project or site agreement are agreed to by the company, the specific project/site agreement shall take precedence over this agreement.
6.2No part of this Agreement shall be interpreted as permitting the establishment of a bargaining period on work covered by this Agreement during its term.
6.3No part of this Agreement shall be used by the Company, or its Employees as evidence or example before any industrial tribunal or proceedings not directly concerned with work covered under this Agreement.
6.4 This Agreement shall operate in conjunction with the Electrical Contracting Industry Award R22 of 1978 (“the Award”). Where any inconsistency exists between this Agreement and the Award, this Agreement will take precedence to the extent of the inconsistency.
7.CONSULTATIVE PROCESS
7.1The Company will facilitate the establishment of a Consultative Committee to monitor and administer this Agreement.
7.2The Consultative Committee may be made up of two (2) Company and two (2) Employee representatives.
7.3The Consultative Committee may meet each quarter to review the implementation and application of this Agreement and to raise, discuss and resolve matters or issues that are relevant to this Agreement, The Company’s business or Employees.
8NO EXTRA CLAIMS
8.1The Employees and CEPU shall not pursue any extra claims in relation to this Agreement, for the life of this Agreement.
9 GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1Pursuant to this Agreement and its measures to achieve gains in productivity, efficiency and flexibility The Company shall provide the hourly rates of pay prescribed in Annexures One and Two of this Agreement which shall be paid in lieu of the minimum weekly rate provided for the Award, and fixed for the period of this Agreement.
9.2The Company Employees will:
- Undertake the work required of them on a Project in a diligent, flexible and co-operative manner;
- Support the Consultative Committee as outlined in this Agreement;
- Agree to abide by The Company’s policies and procedures and the provisions of the Agreement.
10 SUPERANNUATION
10.1The Company will advise all employees subject to the Agreement of their right to have payments made to a complying superannuation fund of their choice. The Company is bound by the employees election.
10.2Until each employee nominates the fund of their choice the Company will make payments into the Connect or C Bus Superannuation Funds.
10.3The Company shall not unreasonably refuse an employee’s request to change their fund.
10.4The Company will make payment calculated at the percentage of ordinary time earnings (OTE) as prescribed in the Superannuation Guarantee Charge. Travel and site allowances shall form part of the OTE.
11.INCOME PROTECTION
11.1The Company has implemented a policy of income protection for Employees covered by this Agreement.
11.2The Income Protection Policy implemented by the Company provides the following.
(a)Cover for 100% of an eligible employee’s average income or $1,000 whichever is less for 104 week applying to work related or personal injury or sickness. The Employees shall be covered for workers compensation top-up;
(b)An excess (waiting) period of 7 days applying to personal injury or sickness; (except sporting injuries 28 days);
(c)The general insurance code of practice applies including operation of a claims review panel run by Insurance Enquirer’s and Complaints Ltd;
(d)Rehabilitation assistance unlimited to 104 weeks overall limit;
(e)That if an eligible Employee covered by this Agreement suffers death as a result of an accident, the expenses of burial or cremation of the cost of returning the Injured Person’s body or ashes to their home town will be paid up to a maximum limit of $10,000; and
(f)Coverage that will provide up to $5,000 for emergency transport for eligible Employees to seek medical treatment following an accident.
12.INCLEMENT WEATHER
The parties agree that this clause will replace, in its entirety, Clause 35. - Adverse Weather of the Award.
12.1General Principles
12.1.1“Inclement Weather” is defined here as rain or abnormal climatic conditions (eg. hail, high wind, severe dust storm, extreme cold temperature, extreme high temperature) under which it is either unreasonable or unsafe for Employees exposed to these conditions to continue working.
12.1.2The primary objective of this clause is ensure that a set of agreed procedures is developed and implemented which ensure that productivity is maximised without exposing Employees to inclement conditions.
12.2Completion of Concrete Pours and Emergency Work
12.2.1Except as provided in this sub-paragraph, an Employee will not be required to work in area which is affected by inclement weather.
12.2.2Where a concrete pour is to be, or has been commenced prior to the commencement of or during a period of inclement weather, Employees may be required to attend to ensure the integrity of the conduit equipment installation and for such work shall be paid at the rate of double time calculated to the next hour, and in the case of wet weather, shall be provided with adequate wet weather gear. The maximum payment for work performed in inclement weather is double time.
If an Employee’s clothes become wet as a result of working in the rain during a concrete pour he/she shall, unless a change of dry working clothes is available, be allowed to go home without loss of pay for ordinary hours.
12.3Inclement Weather (Wet or Hot)
12.3.1The Consultative Committee will be required to develop procedures and contingency plans to support this objective. An Employee shall comply with Company’s instructions to either:
(a)Continue work when the area in which the Employee is working is not affected by the inclement weather; or
(b)Accept a transfer to work in an area of the site not affected by the inclement weather; or
(c)Accept a transfer from one site to another site not affected by the inclement weather (prior to the morning rest period); or
(d)Leave the site without loss of pay.
12.3.2Where the Company requires an Employee to traverse open ground the Company will provide the Employee with protective clothing. Such clothing will remain the property of the Company and shall be returned to the Company, Employees shall take reasonable care of the clothing and pay the cost of its replacement if lost or damaged due to an Employee’s negligence.
12.3.3An Employee shall not be affected by the inclement weather unless by virtue of the weather conditions it is not reasonable and it is not safe for work to continue.
12.3.4Where the employer instructs their Employees to remain on site the employer shall ensure that their Employees have, as a minimum, a trained First Aider on site and a Safety Representative (the First Aider may be from Management). An Employee who does not comply with the Company’s instructions shall forfeit wages for time not worked.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, Employees working in the Commercial Sector shall be released from work when the temperature reaches 37.5. Unless these Employees are working in an air-conditioned workplace or obviously not subjected to outside temperature.
Where the site Employees are released by the main contractor due to wet weather then the Company Employees will also be released from site. The above is subject to the Company’s right to relocate its Employees before the first morning break.
13.OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Western Australian Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, and its associated Regulations, as amended, together with the Company safety policy and procedures will apply to this Agreement.
13.1Procedure for Dealing with an Unsafe Situation
13.1.1When an Employee becomes aware of an unsafe situation, the Employee will be expected to rectify it, if it is within the Employee’s range of skills/competencies and authority to do so.
13.1.2If the Employee is not able to rectify the unsafe situation, the Employee will be expected to notify the Leading Hand, Foreperson or Supervisor, immediately
13.1.3The Leading Hand, Foreperson or Supervisor will immediately rectify the unsafe situation by making good or barricading off.
13.1.4The Leading Hand, Foreperson or Supervisor will take all necessary action to rectify the unsafe situation including consultation with the Employees and WorkSafe as appropriate.
13.1.5If there is to be any delay in rectifying the situation, the Leading Hand, Foreperson or Supervisor will ensure that the Employees who are working in the effected area are relocated to work in other areas on the job (or other sites) until the unsafe situation has been rectified.
14.DISPUTE PROCEDURE
Any questions, disputes or difficulties arising pertaining to any matter covered by this Agreement or the award or both shall be settled in accordance with Clause 27. - Grievance Procedure and Special Allowance of the Award
15.SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted in any Company site office, vehicle, mess/change shed and or sanitary facility or in any other amenities where appropriate signage is displayed.
The Company Consultative Committee will be responsible for the management of specific non-smoking issues in accordance with Company policy, given once a work area becomes enclosed, it will be deemed to be a non-smoking area.
16.OBJECTIVES OF AGREEMENT
16.1The parties acknowledge their commitment to the principles of enterprise bargaining.
16.2The parties agree that as a result of this Agreement, the Company need to achieve productivity improvements to continue to hold a competitive edge within the market place by:
16.2.1Heightening awareness and acceptance of accountability levels of all in the contracting process within the Company’s operations;
16.2.2Encouraging the Company Employees to accept responsibility in helping manage the total project performance including subcontractors;
16.2.3Developing concepts of best practice, continuous improvement and quality control to enhance productivity and efficiency;
16.2.4Developing a co-operative and harmonious working environment in the enterprise;
16.2.5Developing better Employee management practices that promote shared concepts of skill formation, learning, teamwork, participation, flexibility and communication;
16.2.6Introducing best practice procedures in workplace health and safety and personnel management;
16.2.7Developing and following procedures to eliminate lost time and make better use of available working time, eg start and finish at the designated workplace at normal start and finish times;
16.2.8Establishing measures to ensure ordered relations exist between the Company and the CEPU on the Company work sites;
16.2.9Enhancing job satisfaction;
16.2.10Improving the Company’s competitiveness to help improve job security;
16.2.11Mature age Employees (over the age of 45) will be respected in our industry. Accordingly the Company will encourage reasonable ratios of mature age Employees. This may not be used to displace existing Employees.
16.2.12It is agreed that the measures in this agreement, properly implemented and carried out, will assist in the achievement of those objectives.
17.TRAINING
17.1The Company acknowledges the changing pace of technology in the Electrical Contracting Industry and the need for Employees to understand those changes and have the necessary skill requirements to keep the Company at the forefront of the industry.
17.2The parties to this Agreement recognise that in order to increase the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the Company commitment to training and skill development is required. Accordingly, the parties commit themselves to:
17.2.1Developing a more highly skilled and flexible workforce; and
17.2.2Providing Employees with career opportunities through appropriate training to acquire the additional skills as required by the Company.
17.2.3It is agreed that a training program be developed consistent with:
17.2.4The current and future skill needs of the Company;
17.2.5The size, structure and nature of the Company and
17.2.6The need to develop vocational skills relevant to the company and the electrical contracting industry.
18.MEASURES TO ACHIEVE GAINS IN PRODUCTIVITY EFFICIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY
18.1Award Matters
It is agreed between the parties that all work performed for the Company shall be performed in accordance with the agreement and with the award as varied by this agreement.
18.2Flexibility of Hours, Breaks and RDO’s
It is agreed that Employees will be flexible in the following areas:
18.2.1Where it is agreed between the Company and the majority of affected Employees the Company may reschedule ordinary working hours; particularly where the Company has commitments and the 36 hour week is being implemented.
18.2.2The spread of hours may be altered by agreement between the Company and the majority of Employees in the plant or section(s) concerned;
18.2.3Agreement to reschedule ordinary working hours and to alter the spread of hours shall not unreasonably be withheld;
18.2.4Flexibility of rest period and meal intervals which may be staggered or otherwise arranged at a time and in a manner to suit the convenience of the Company in conjunction with the provisions paragraph (1) (e) and (f) of Clause 11. – Hours of the award; and
18.2.5It is agreed that when the Company wish to reschedule an RDO, the Company will endeavour to provide reasonable notice to the Employee(s), RDO’s may be substituted by agreement in accordance with the award, which agreement shall not unreasonably be withheld.
18.3Maintenance of Workplace
All Employees are committed to ensure their workplace is maintained in a clean and safe condition.
18.4Place of Start and Finish Work
It is agreed that all Employees will be dressed and ready to start work at their normal start time at the designated workplace and will finish work at their normal finish time and place. On construction work the workplace shall be deemed to be the nearest the Company compound or smoko shed.
18.5Footwear
It is agreed that all Employees will be issued with safety footwear. Such safety footwear will be replace annually or on a fair wear and tear basis whichever is the sooner. There shall be no automatic reissue of footwear where an Employee is placed on a new site whichever is the sooner.
18.6Uniforms and Clothing
It is agreed that all Employees will be issued with Company uniforms and clothing. Employees shall wear such items during all work hours and each Employee shall maintain his/her uniform in a respectable condition as approved by the Company.
Clothing issued shall consist of:
- 2 Shirts
- 2 Trousers (or Shorts)
- 1 Bluey Jacket (or jumper as preferred)
It is agreed that uniforms/clothing will be replaced annually or on a fair wear and tear basis whichever is the sooner. There shall be no automatic re-issue of clothing where an Employee is placed on a new site.
18.7Care of Company Property
18.7.1It is agreed that the Employees will treat all Company property, plant and equipment with due care and respect to ensure replacement is kept to a minimum. All property, plant and equipment shall be returned to the designated storage area each day.
18.7.2A tradesperson or apprentice shall replace or pay for any tools supplied by the Company if lost through his/her negligence. See paragraph (20)(b) of Clause 18. - Special Rates and Provisions of the Award.
18.7.3It is agreed that all Employees are committed to reducing the cost of maintenance and minimising theft and time spent looking for equipment not returned to its designated storage area.
18.8Company Vehicles
Where an Employee is provided the use of a company vehicle to conduct company business that Employee shall ensure that:
18.8.1The vehicle is kept clean and free of rubbish;
18.8.2The vehicle’s oil and fuel requirements are regularly checked to maintain the vehicle in a ready-for-use condition; and
18.8.3Any defects that come to the Employee’s attention are reported to the company immediately.
18.9Care of Consumables
It is agreed that all Employees are committed to ensure maximum usage of materials and consumables is achieved and will exercise due care and precaution to prevent wastage. All Employees are committed to identifying further ways in which wastage can be reduced.
18.10Quality Management
It is agreed that Employees shall co-operate fully with the development and implementation of the Company’s Quality Management Systems and procedures, and will continually strive to improve the quality of the products and services supplied by the Company. Employees are committed to reduce rework and complete tasks the first time, and eliminate the need to return to finish incomplete work.
18.11Timesheets and Day Labour Sheets
18.11.1It is agreed that Employees will punctually and correctly fill out timesheets for each pay period.
18.11.2It is agreed that where required by the Company operating procedures, eg service work and day works, Employees shall punctually and correctly fill out the Company’s Day Labour Sheets.