TTIA issues circulars to Members on a regular basis with updated information regarding Awards, industrial relations, occupational health and safety and general articles of interest for Members in the timber and timber products industry. Please click on the link.
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Nominations are called for the election of office bearers on the TTIA Council. The nomination may be made by eligible nominators (Council Members) between 9/3/2022 and 12 pm on 23/3/2022.
Members would be aware of the deluge and weather-related havoc being caused on the east coast at present. This affects a number of TTIA Members, particularly those on the far north coast.
I have provided a summary to explain the options available to TTIA Members in the affected areas – see Member Circulars – Urgent Member Advice. If you are any doubt, please contact the Association for more advice and support.
Nominations are called for:Timber Trade Industrial Association-Councillor (8) Nominations, which must be in writing and comply with the registered rules of the Organisation and may be made at any time from 9:00 am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) 31/01/2022. Additional forms are available from the Returning Officer. Prospective candidates and nominators should verify their financial status and any other qualifications required by the Organisation’s rules prior to lodging nominations. Nominations must reach the Returning Officer via the lodgement method(s) stipulated below not later than 4:00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on 14/02/2022.
Nomination forms have been emailed to all TTIA financial Members. If you require further forms contact ttia@ttia.asn.au
HOW TO LODGE NOMINATIONS
Nominations must be lodged via the portal or email to IEBnominations@aec.gov.au
A Full Bench decision of the Fair Work Commission [CFMMEU & Matthew Howard v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd T/A Mt Arthur Coal [2021] FWCFB 6059] has overturned a vaccine mandate introduced by BHP on 7 October this year at the Mt Arthur open cut coal mine in NSW citing that it was not a reasonable direction due to a failure to properly consult with employees prior to the implementation of the new policy and that any direction to an employee must be both lawful and reasonable.
The vaccine mandate had required employees to:
– have a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by 10 November 2021; and
– must be fully vaccinated by 31 January 2022.
Employees were informed that if they attended the workplace after midnight on 9 November 2021, they would not be permitted access to the workplace unless they provided their employer with evidence that they had had at least a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
An application was made by the CFMMEU under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) seeking that the Fair Work Commission deal with a dispute under the dispute resolution procedure in the employer’s enterprise agreement. There was agreement between both parties that the question of whether the vaccination mandate was a lawful and reasonable direction be arbitrated by the Fair Work Commission.
The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission held that the vaccine mandate was not a reasonable decision because BHP had failed to properly consult its employees prior to implementing the policy. It found that BHP had engaged in ‘scant consultation’.
This decision reminds employers of the importance of compliance with consultation provisions within the Work Health & Safety legislation (being sections 47-49 for the NSW legislation).
Whilst the Fair Work Commission highlighted the lack of consultation, there were factors in favour of finding that the vaccine mandate was reasonable as follows:
– it was directed at ensuring the health and safety of the employees
– it had a logical and understandable basis.
– it was a reasonably proportionate response to the risk created by COVID-19.
– it was developed having regard to the circumstances at the workplace, including the fact that the employees cannot work from home and they come into contact with other employees whilst at work.
– the timing for its commencement was determined by reference to circumstances pertaining to NSW and the local area at the relevant time; and
– it was only implemented after Mt Arthur spent a considerable amount of time encouraging vaccination and setting up a vaccination hub for workers at the workplace.
The Full Bench decision held that there would have been a “strong case” for introducing the vaccine mandate had BHP consulted properly.
TTIA Members wishing to enforce a vaccine mandate should ensure they engage in a meaningful consultation before making any decision to implement a mandatory vaccination policy.
Key points:
Fully vaccinated travellers from Victoria and New South Wales will be permitted to enter SA from Tuesday 23 November, except for Byron Bay which is yet to hit a vaccination rate of 80 per cent.
Double-vaccinated domestic travellers will be able to head into SA without quarantining (unless travellers from LGAs with community transmission and less than 80 per cent fully vaccinated).
Anyone entering South Australia will need to register their details.
Exemptions can still be processed for unvaccinated travellers.
International arrivals will have the current quarantine duration halved.
7 days quarantine for vaccinated international travellers, 14 days for unvaccinated authorised arrivals.
Masks and density requirements remain.
EntryCheck SA is a new entry process to protect South Australia and minimise the impact of COVID-19 as our borders open.
From 23 November 2021, all people planning to travel to South Australia from interstate and overseas, including returning South Australians, must apply through EntryCheck SA.
Note: EntryCheck SA is available for people planning to travel to South Australia after 12.01 am 23 November 2021.
The NSW Government has announced its roadmap to re-opening now that the state has reached the 70% double vaccinated target. Restrictions will be further eased once 80% of the eligible population are double-dosed. By 1 December 2021, NSW will be fully re-opened (including to those not fully vaccinated) subject to density limits and social distancing requirements.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/business-rules-for-nsw#toc-work
TTIA Members can refer to circular email sent today for further information.
Further information detailed in email circular to TTIA Members today (21/9/21)
The following changes come into effect across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, 30 July:
Retail premises will be required to close (‘click and collect’, takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
From 11.59pm on Saturday, 17 July:
Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs
Click here for link to Fairfield LGA suburbs
Click here for link to Canterbury-Bankstown LGA suburbs
Click here for link to Liverpool LGA suburbs
Mask Requirements
Carpooling
Construction/Renovation
From 12.01am on Monday, 19 July:
Work from home
From 12.01am on Wednesday, 21 July:
Members are advised that manufacturing, harvesting, milling and processing have not been excluded from trading at this point in time. This is in contrast to the Public Health Order pausing all construction. In addition, the government list above states that hardware, nurseries and building supplies can remain open.
Regional NSW
Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.
Click here for link to NSW Government restrictions
The Greater Sydney lockdown will be extended for at least another two weeks after NSW recorded 97 new Covid cases. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said that the stay-at-home order, which also includes the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour is now expected to end at 11.59pm on Friday July 30.