Wilken Electrical Services Pty Ltd applied to the AIRC for an order to suspend or terminate a bargaining period initiated by the CEPU.
The company claimed that the union was seeking to negotiate a pattern bargaining agreement which included prohibited content and which was not compliant with the National Code of Practice and the Implementation Guidelines.
Proceedings were adjourned to allow a review of the proposed agreement by both the Office of Employment Advocate (for prohibited content) and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (for Code compliance) which was facilitated by the ABCC. The OEA and DEWR each produced documents for the parties which identified the problems with the proposed agreement.
A report back to the AIRC took place on 27 September 2006 at which the AIRC directed that the parties have further discussions concerning the proposed agreement. A further report back is to take place on 3 October 2006.
Commissioner Harrison subsequently granted the unions application for a protected action ballot order on 9 October 2006.