NEW FEDERAL UNION RIGHT OF ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The Federal Government in the last sitting days of the current Federal Parliament introduced new Regulations under the Fair Work Act which deals with federal union right of entry obligations.

The changes are being introduced in two phases, being:

From 1 July 2019

Federal union right of entry permits issued by the FWC on, or after 1 July 2019, must include:

i)      The permit holder’s full name;
ii)     The name of the organization that applied for the entry permit;
iii)     An expiry date for the entry permit;
iv)     The permit holder’s signature
v)      A recent photograph of the permit holder that:

• Show’s the holder’s full face; and
• Meets requirements that are considered appropriate by the FWC

From 1 October 2019

For federal union right of entry permits issued prior to 1 July 2019, and remain current, the permit holder when seeking to exercise right of entry at a workplace must also produce in addition to the permit a document which:

a)      Provides photographic identification of the permit holder; and
b)      Is issued:

• By a government of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or
• By an authority established for a public purpose by a or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory which was issued no more than 2 years before the document is produced to exercise right of entry.

This will mean in most circumstances producing a State union right of entry permit issued by the Registrar of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Master Builders recommends commercial building site managers always require union officials exercising union right of entry to a worksite to comply with the State and federal union right of obligations.

Members can call Kim Richardson at Master Builders on 9476 9800 to discuss.

John Gelavis
Executive Director

Master Builders WA
9476 9800 | mba@mbawa.com