State LG award modernisation information webinar

The ASU has filed applications to amend the two Local Government (LG) awards, namely the Local Government Officers’ (Western Australia) Award 2021 (LGO Award) and the Municipal Employees (Western Australia) Award 2021 (ME Award).

The two applications are primarily seeking to introduce Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) terms and conditions and add some other additional employment conditions, including:
 
  • An increase to casual loading from 20% to 25%
  • Inserting a right to casual conversion
  • Providing employment equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
  • Inserting cultural and ceremonial leave (for the LGO Award only)
  • Providing additional redundancy severance pay for regional workers
  • Increasing the amount of annual leave for shift workers from four to five weeks
  • Inserting a right to request flexible working arrangements.
A call to action

We believe these applications are just the beginning of an award modernisation process that may take one to two years. Based on this and the sector feedback that the State awards require modernisation WALGA is seeking:
 
  • Your LG’s interest to join the current award applications before the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC)
  • LG representatives from Human Resources and/or Management to join a newly formed working group to facilitate award updates on behalf of the sector.
We have already written to your CEOs and HR Managers about these applications and are representing 17 (of the 25 employer respondents) in the current award applications. There are approximately 118 other LGs and Regional Councils that have an interest in these matters, which have not been formally notified of these applications by the WAIRC.

Register for our webinar on Wednesday, 22 March 

To find out more join our webinar next week to hear about:
 
  • Details of the ASU’s current claims
  • How the applications will impact on your LG
  • WALGA’s role in award modernisation
  • How WALGA will be seeking feedback from your LG
  • The creation of a State Award Working Group
Date: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Time: 1pm – 1:45pm
Register now

This webinar will be recorded if you are unable to attend.

New LinkedIn WALGA People and Culture Network  

We have created a new LinkedIn group called the WALGA People and Culture Network in response to your feedback that you'd like more ways to connect with your LG colleagues. Group members can use the group to share ideas, information, articles of interest, trends, current challenges and solutions. WALGA will also use the group to share information of interest with members. 

Join the WALGA People and Culture Network LinkedIn Group here!

Monthly bargaining drop in meeting - Lunch and share 

WALGA Employee Relations is trialling a monthly bargaining catch up for LG People and Culture professionals to share their current bargaining experiences, logs of claims from unions and employees and any other issues relating to union relationships and right of entry.

Date: Monday, 3 April 2023
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Register here

If you have any questions about this alert, please email WALGA Employee Relations or call 1300 366 956.