Page 1422 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 1993
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The national union will proceed with the matter over a period of time, I expect, because, given the wage arrangements that are now in place, it is a little difficult and complicated to pursue the national arrangement and at the same time look at being part of a framework agreement which talks about enterprise bargaining in a particular place. My understanding is that the United Firefighters Union is contemplating signing the ACT framework agreement, and we would be happy for it to do so.
MRS CARNELL: I ask a supplementary question. The log of claims that has been put forward by the United Firefighters Union includes pay rises to $260,000 per annum for all officers and firefighters, employer contributions to superannuation of 50 per cent of wages, payments upon termination of $1m, two years' notification of termination, no disciplinary action whatsoever to be undertaken against employees, meal allowances of $100, a return first-class air fare for employees and their families to any capital city in Australia at least once - - -
Mr De Domenico: Once a week?
MRS CARNELL: And 12 weeks' annual leave. Minister, is this claim consistent with the ACT Government's mirror agreement and, if not, what is the Government doing to rectify the situation? Finally, is this not your former union?
MR BERRY: I hope that you run your chemist shop with a better understanding of pharmacy than you have of industrial relations; otherwise you will go broke. But if you did go broke you would have more time to study industrial relations and you would be better at the subject. This, Madam Speaker, is a typical ambit claim.
Members: Typical?
MR BERRY: Yes, it is a typical ambit claim - "ambit" meaning that there is lots of room to move. It would have been served on a range of employers, I suspect, around Australia.
Mr De Domenico: What a waste of time!
MR BERRY: The spokesperson on industrial relations interjects, "What a waste of time!".
Mr Cornwell: How can we take the union movement seriously with that nonsense going on?
MR BERRY: I am afraid that you do not know anything about it either, Mr Cornwell. The procedural arrangements in industrial cases have led to ambit claims of this sort being made right across the country. All you have to do is sit down and read a little bit about it. You will understand it better and you will never make a fool of yourself like this again.
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