Labour Court recommends agreement or outside assessment in WACE SPECIALIST PRINT/BURGESS BEZIER grading dispute

In 1998, the Labour Court recommended that WACE SPECIALIST PRINT/BURGESS BEZIER, the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union seek agreement on a grade-upgrading claim for three Production Control Centre employees. If they could not agree, the Court recommended an assessment by an agreed third party. Its recommendation was signed on 19 November 1998. The unions said the employees had taken on broader responsibilities after a reorganisation and cited a company letter that raised expectations of upgrading. The company argued the added duties did not justify grade 4, citing its financial position and workforce changes. The Court said the company followed the correct review procedures, but the letter had raised expectations; it could not determine the grading without more information about job content and weightings.