Australian Institute of Employment Rights

Author Archives: Lisa Heap

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) collaborated with the Teacher Learning Network (TLN) to produce WorkRight, an innovative curriculum resource for teaching about workplace rights and responsibilities.

Commissioned by the Victorian Government the resource is designed and written to be used by all teachers working with students in Year 10 or at Levels 5 and 6 of VELS.  The package has a comprehensive, carefully sequenced and practical set of activities designed for all teachers to use across the curriculum, as well as extensive resources and references for referral to augment the knowledge and skill base of teachers.

WorkRight is centred on ten themes that young people themselves have identified as critical areas for ensuring a ‘fair go for all’ in the workplace.

These ten themes are:

  1. Everyone should have a fair go at work
  2. Everyone has a right to be treated with dignity
  3. Discrimination and harassment are against the law
  4. Everyone has a right to a safe and healthy workplace
  5. Everyone should get a say about the things that affect them
  6. You should always be able to ask someone to speak on your behalf
  7. No one should be asked to leave without a fair reason
  8. Everyone is entitled to fair basic conditions
  9. You (or your) representative should be allowed to bargain for a fairer deal
  10. Disputes should be resolved quickly and fairly

WorkRight includes a comprehensive curriculum resource, a teacher reference resource, and a student take home resource.  Web 2.0 applications including dedicated website,  I-Pad Teacher Resource app and I-Phone/Smartphone student apps will be available early August 2011.

Colour print quality copies of the resources are available on order from the Teacher Learning Network (TLN) 03 9418 4992 or www.tln.org.au

Employees should be told of the conditions of their employment. It is implicit in the notion of an agreement to employ that the parties both know exactly what they are agreeing about. However, the right of the employee to be provided with access to employment conditions prior to, or on commencement of, employment remains uncertain. Recent changes to the law have improved the right of employees to access to their terms of their employment but gaps remain that should be addressed. Continue reading “The Right to Know: Employees and Their Conditions of Employment” »

As the ABCC’s investigation into sham contracting in the building and construction industry continues, the Australian Institute for Employment Rights (AIER) calls again for recognition of the foundation principle that workers performing the same or equivalent work as employees should be entitled to the same protections. Continue reading “Workers performing the same or equivalent work as employees should be entitled to the same protections” »

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) has partnered with the Australian Labour Law Association to provide a forum to discuss the implications of the Full Federal Court decision in Barclay v Bendigo Regional TAFE.

DATE: Wednesday 2 March, 2011 from 6pm – 7.30pm
VENUE: Monash University Law Chambers, 472 Bourke Street, Melbourne Continue reading “Seminar: Adverse Action and Union Activity Under the Fair Work Act” »

The recent Full Federal Court decision in Barclay v Bendigo Regional TAFE is the first considering the adverse action provisions in the Fair Work Act. The landmark majority decision of Justices Gray and Bromberg clarifies the breadth of freedom of association provisions in the Act, the approach to proving contravention and recognises the crucial role played by union delegates under the Act. Continue reading “Federal Court Delivers Landmark Decision on Freedom of Association and Fair Work Act Adverse Action Provisions” »

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) Executive is delighted with the Australian Government’s decision to honour the work and life of Professor Ron McCallum AO by naming him Senior Australian of the Year. The recognition of Professor McCallum in this way is an appropriate reflection of a personal and professional life committed to social justice and equality, respect for individuals and their rights, advancement in our laws to achieve this and the education of generations of students who can carry this message forward. Continue reading “AIER Patron Named Senior Australian of the Year” »

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) Executive Director Lisa Heap and barrister Malcolm Harding argue that the current controversy over the recent decision of Commissioner Smith of Fair Work Australia in Woolworths Ltd trading as Produce & Recycling Distribution Centre (AG 2009/14435) presents the opportunity to remind ourselves of some of the basic tenets of our industrial relations system under the Fair Work Act 2009. Continue reading “Why Effective Dispute Resolution Includes the Requirement for Third Party Determination” »

The President of the Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) and one of Australia’s leading industrial lawyers, Michael Harmer, will today call on all sides of politics to stop playing “political football” with the Australian workplace relations system. Continue reading “Stop Playing Political Football With Australian Workplaces: Harmer” »

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