Item 7.1

• analyse the impact of the Workplace Relations Act on the sector;
• publish a booklet on the new legislation;
• commission a research to assess changes in the sector's labour market;
• re-introduce a monitoring process for industrial requests, and;
• prepare an overview of those requests.

Outline of industrial services activity

More specifically, the continuing increase in use of individual employment contracts has seen more ALIA members seeking assistance in drawing up terms and conditions of employment. There has been a concommitant surge in requests from employers for similar help. In almost all cases, ALIA has been able to assist in a manner which has been mutually satisfactory. There have also been noticeably more requests for co-operation and specialist assistance from trade unions, seeking to more effectively represent the interests of library workers. This has allowed us to provide material which supports arguments for greater recognition of librarians and of the worth of their work. In some cases, formal work value submissions are being presented to the industrial tribunals using material supplied by ALIA.

Specific issues arising from resolution 29/97 have been dealt with as follows:

1. impact of the Workplace Relations Act - it is frankly far too early to make sensible judgements about this. For practical purposes, the most important changes (those dealing with agreements, individual contracts and non-union bargaining) became effective only two months ago (at the time of writing). While there are indications that federal public sector agencies are considering how to use the Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA) stream, none has yet put forward specific proposals to librarians. Some unions have been active in seeking to counter the move in advance by securing staff endorsement of recommendations for continued collective approaches. This has resulted in many requests for advice and 'second opinions' about the pros and cons of alternative approaches. But actual negotiation of AWAs has not yet arisen. Previous experience with significant legislative change (for example, with introduction of Enterprise Flexibility Agreements and ,earlier, with award flexibility clauses) suggests that the normal pattern sees employer reluctance to be 'first to test the water'. At this stage it is by no means clear whether the non-union bargaining stream will be strongly taken up.
2. production of a booklet on the new laws - in fact, two booklets have been published and are now available to members free of charge, and to non-members on payment of a fee. There has been strong interest in them in the past few weeks. Copies can be obtained by Councillors from ALIA National Office.
3. commission research - a major research proposal has been now developed and will be carried out by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training in conjunction with ALIA National Office. It will commence in early July with completion envisaged by September 1997. Full details of the process are set out in my column in inCite's July edition.
4. monitoring of industrial requests - a process is in place. Details are set out in the attachment to this report. Together with comments made above, it provides an overview of both the subject and origin of requests for assistance.

   Representation
   The following activities have been undertaken:

   • conducted a seminar on 'librarians and labour market changes' for the New South wales Branch in Sydney;
   • presented an analysis of the new federal industrial relations legislation at a function for the ACT Technicians group;
   • led a workshop 'developing skills for enterprise bargaining' for the Riverina Division in Albury;
   • spoke on 'industrial relations and workplace change' as guest speaker at the Riverina Division's Library Week dinner in Wagga;
   • took part in a working session on a proposed new enterprise agreement for staff of the Charles Sturt University Library at the request of the Director in Wagga.

   Analysis of requests for industrial assistance
   As part of its resolution GC 29/97 General Council at its meeting in March 1997 requested re-introduction of a monitoring process for industrial requests. Details below are of employment and industrial services calls for assistance, by topic and location.

   	By topic request categories#
   week	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	total
   17/3	12	7	4	3	1	3	4	3	-	1	38
   24/3*	14	6	6	4	2	1	3	2	1	3	42
   31/3	10	4	3	3	1	4	4	3	1	2	35
   07/4	12	13	5	5	2	3	5	2	-	3	50
   14/4	15	12	5	3	2	-	5	4	-	1	47
   21/4*	9	9	1	3	3	1	5	5	-	2	38
   28/4	13	10	4	5	5	2	6	6	1	2	54
   5/5	12	12	3	5	4	3	6	3	2	1	51
   12/5	15	9	5	2	5	4	8	2	1	2	53
   19/5	10	8	4	2	3	2	6	1	-	2	38
   total	122	90	40	35	28	23	52	31	6	19	446

   * public holiday

   # Key to categories

   1. Factual information on salary levels and basic entitlements.
   2. Interpretation and advice on application of awards, industrial agreements and employment legislation.
   3. Assistance in drawing up employment contracts, negotiating techniques and strategy.
   4. Creation of arguments for demonstration of increased work value, for job reclassification and salary increase.
   5. Drafting of letters, either to the member to support their case, or to the employer on the member's behalf.
   6. Suggestions for job protection, retention of the library function or maximising redundancy entitlements.
   7. Guidance to employers in regard to employment of library and information staff.
   8. Information and guidance on job seeking and employment prospects.
   9. Complaints about job advertisements.
   10. Help with study and research: recommended sources, books, articles, authors and so on.

   	By location
   state	17/3	24/3	31/3	7/4	14/4	21/4	28/4	5/5	12/5	19/5	total
   ACT	2	1	3	4	6	2	3	5	6	4	36
   NSW	13	15	12	16	14	10	16	10	15	16	137
   Vic	12	13	8	12	12	9	12	14	9	8	109
   Qld	7	6	7	9	6	7	8	11	10	4	75
   SA	0	4	3	5	5	6	7	3	4	2	39
   WA	3	3	2	3	4	4	6	7	8	4	44
   NT	1	-	-	1	-	-	2	1	1	1	6
   total	38	42	35	50	47	38	54	51	53	38	446