Case Number: RE2008/2128
Applicant: Showcase Pty Ltd t/a Greenco Electrical & Communication Services Respondent: Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (ETU)
Before: Commissioner Williams, AIRC, Perth
ABC Commissioner’s notice to intervene filed on: 12 February 2008
Hearing Dates: 6 March 2008
A Perth electrical contractor, Showcase Pty Ltd t/a Greenco Electrical & Communication Services (Greenco), applied to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission pursuant to s.772 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (WR Act) for Orders in relation to a dispute about the operation of right of entry provisions.
The WR Act does not allow permit holders to enter a workplace to hold discussions where all the employees of that workplace are covered by Australian Workplace Agreements or an Employee Collective Agreement. Such is the case with Greenco employees.
Greenco claims that ETU officials have attended sites to hold discussion with its employees, in some cases without having given the requisite notice provided for in the WR Act. On other occasions the ETU officials have allegedly entered sites purportedly to inspect licences in accordance with the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 (WA) and then discussed industrial relations matters with employees.
At a conference before Commissioner Williams 6 March 2008, the parties were unable to resolve their differences. The conference was adjourned on 6 March without resolution. On 13 March 2008 the company advised the Commission that it was discontinuing its application.