What do you need to know about?  Well, a detailed paper setting out the changes is available on our website and can be accessed from the following link: http://www.workplace-lawyers.com.au/download/Symposium-paper.pdf

It is important to know that the main changes in the Fair Work Act are being introduced in two phases:

A.      Commencing 1 July 2009                                         

1.      Workplace Relations Act repealed                                        

2.      New unfair dismissal laws start                                 

3.      New good faith bargaining requirements start                    

B.      Commencing 1 January 2010

1.      National employment standards start

2.      Modern award system starts

3.      Fair Work Australia starts

4.      No more individual transitional employment agreements can be made

We will provide a summary of relevant issues in coming weeks.  But to recap, the Fair Work Act 2009 puts into place the Rudd government’s pre election promises to:

·       Expand statutory minimum workplace rights and conditions;

·       Modernise the award system;

·       Expand access to the unfair dismissal jurisdiction;

·       Renew the emphasis on collective bargaining; and