Pay deductions for partial strikes to be reintroduced

“Changes to collective bargaining will help rebalance the rights and consequences of industrial action, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.

A bill to allow for pay deductions in response to partial strikes will be introduced today.

“Partial strikes are industrial actions that normally involve turning up to work but refusing to partake in key parts of the job. Often, it is the public who lose out or are caught in the middle when these partial strikes occur.

“Intentionally causing disruption to customers or to the employer’s output is not only currently a permitted collective bargaining tactic, but employers’ options to respond are limited.

Currently if an employee is engaged in a partial strike, their employer cannot deduct their pay unless they suspend the employee or issue a lockout notice.

“To provide a more effective and efficient bargaining environment, the coalition Government is reinstating provisions into the Employment Relations Act to allow for pay deductions in response to partial strikes,” Ms van Velden says.”