'Employers simply should not be subject to agreement terms that they have not actually agreed to,' Ai Group chief says
National employer association Ai Group has criticised the Fair Work Commission's move to rewrite ALDI's warehouse enterprise agreements for part-time employees, calling it "another damaging impact" of the government's recent workplace reforms.
The FWC, in a ruling in January, exercised one of its new powers to impose amendments to three of ALDI's warehouse enterprise agreements with part-time employees after ruling that the workers would not be better off under the proposed deals than under their industry award.
Under the new deal, ALDI must introduce fixed rosters for part-timers, such as clear finishing times for their shifts, without its consent.
"Employers simply should not be subject to agreement terms that they have not actually agreed to. Any other approach risks exposing employers to unforeseen and potentially unsustainable operational consequences and costs," said Innes Willox, CEO of the Ai Group.
"The decision highlights yet another damaging impact that recent changes to workplace relations laws are having on employers."
Willox said the decision shows why the industry was "understandably worried" about giving the FWC new powers to rewrite enterprise agreements.
It also highlights the risks and difficulties employers face in delivering flexible part-time working arrangements that employees want.
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