Today, 1 July 2009, the new legislation governing industrial relations in Australia, came into effect.

The Fair Work Australia Act 2009 does much to abolish the pernicious aspects of WorkChoices and the former government’s Workplace Relations Act.

There is still work to be done including the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission which treat construction workers differently from all other workers in the application of coercive powers. Rights On Site

The Fair Work Australia Act restores the rights of thousands of workers employed in businesses employing fewer than 100 people to take action against their employer for unfair dismissal. Restrictions remain for workers in business with fewer than 15 employees.

The concept of bargaining in good faith has been introduced, which puts requirements on employers in relation to conduct when bargaining, such as meeting at reasonable times and providing information. Employers will no longer be able to refuse to bargain over enterprise agreements with employees who choose to be members of a union.

In addition the federal government has legislated for robust minimum conditions of employment such as personal/sick leave, annual leave and other entitlements. These minimum conditions cannot be bargained away. They will have most practical effect for workers without strong unions like ours, and who are not covered by enterprise agreements, including women in low paid sectors of the economy and junior workers.