Converging themes in Industrial Relations Laws

Converging themes in Industrial Relations Laws - Even though they often seem to be the subject of conflicting government agendas, the fact that the major participants (employers, unions and government) are almost always involved in issues associated with industrial relations and compensation systems, makes it is important to consider these systems concurrently. Legislative change can affect both areas of the law. If these systems are considered separately, duplications and inconsistencies in dispute resolution processes are likely. In addition nnecessary expense may occur where separate jurisdictions resolve disputes which could have been dealt with in a single jurisdiction. In recent years, a trend has developed to erode compensation benefits, with a tendency for benefits lost under compensation systems to be the subject of negotiation in the industrial arena. What is lost in one jurisdiction is often claimed or negotiated in another. This work suggests that the significant overlap in industrial and workers compensation laws requires a rationalisation of the court and tribunal structures in these areas.

Autorentext

Rob Guthrie is the Professor of Workers Compensation and Workplace Law at Curtin University in Perth Western Australia. He was the author of reports to the WA Government on workers compensation in 1991, 1999 and 2001. He is also the author of LexisNexis Workers Compensation Western Australia .