CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION

NATIONAL DIVISIONAL POLICY ON

Enterprise Consultative Committee Role in

Training

ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE


This document sets out the Policy of the CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION on the Enterprise Consultative Committee Role in Training for the information of Members, Representative and Officials.

Included with the Policy is an introduction that provides a background for the reading and application of the Policy.

This Policy is binding on all CFMEU FORESTRY AND FURNISHING PRODUCTS DIVISION members, officials and employees.

Any queries about the Policy should be directed to either the Branch or National Office.

Content

1. Introduction
2. Aims of Policy
2.1 Through the ECC, the aims of this Policy are to;
2.2 ECC's role in training at the workplace should lead to;
3. Policy Details
3.1 Role of the Enterprise Consultative Committee;
3.2 Role of Union representatives and officials in ECC's
4. Training
5. Competency Standards
5.1 What is Assessment of Competency;
6. Implementation
6.1 National Divisional Office;
6.2 Branches;
6.3 Members and Representatives.


1. INTRODUCTION

The establishment of consultative mechanisms in the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry has been an important aim of this Union for several years.

Union members in workplaces are a rich source of information and ideas about ways to improve workplaces and the industry for the benefit of both workers and employers.

Enterprise Consultative Committees have been established as the main vehicle by which consultation will occur at the workplace.

The Forestry and Furnishing Products Division of the CFMEU is strongly committed to the restructuring of the industry for the benefit of its members and over the last 10 years has developed and implemented a progressive program of workplace reform in the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry. This reform is aimed at developing the industry to be more technologically advanced, high value added, competitive and export/import replacement orientated. These developments require a highly skilled, well-organised and motivated workforce receiving good conditions and being well paid in recognition of the high level of skills that they hold.

The ECC should oversee and direct all training and skill development issues at an enterprise level.

This Policy states the position of the Forestry and Furnishing Products Division in relation to the role the Enterprise Consultative Committee (ECC) plays in training within the enterprise, to enhance and advance member's skills.

This training includes National Industry Competency Standards, Assessment of Competency, National Qualifications Framework and The Skill Development Process

Consultation through the ECC is essential to addressing issues within the enterprise, in order for any kind of advancement or benefit to be gained for any member in the industry.

This Policy should be read in conjunction with the Forest and Furnishing Products Division Skill Development and Consultation Policies.


2. AIMS OF THIS POLICY

2.1 THROUGH THE ECC, THE AIMS OF THIS POLICY ARE TO:

  • Ensure the ECC is able to represent members needs in relation to training and skill development;
  • Ensure equity of access to skills training and development;
  • Increase skill levels of our members;
  • Provide more appropriate training for members;
  • Provide better training to members;
  • Provide nationally recognised accreditation for skills gained;
  • Ensure where possible, training and skill development is controlled by industry, not training providers or educational institutions;
  • Achieve full utilisation of individual workers potential skills and abilities.

2.2 ECC's ROLE IN TRAINING AT THE WORKPLACE SHOULD LEAD TO:

  • Improved decision making processes;
  • Increased trust and co-operation between workers and management;
  • Better communications within the workplace;
  • Better management of training;
  • Increased quality of products and productivity;
  • Increased access to skills training
  • Improved quality of working life;
  • Greater job security;


3. POLICY DETAILS

3.1 ROLE OF THE ENTERPRISE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

The role of the ECC is to consider and make decisions on a broad range of issues that effect workers, enterprises and the industry. The ECC therefore has an important role to play in training. This role should include:

  • Skills development, training and career paths;
  • Development of an enterprise training plan;
  • Changes to work organisation and job design;
  • Quality systems management;
  • Production levels monitoring and improvement;
  • Industry/enterprise expansion and investment;
  • Changes to work practices in company structure and policies;
  • Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action;
  • Issues on quality of working life;
  • Availability of paid time for workers to receive work related training including English Language, Literacy, Occupational Health and Safety, Consultative Committee and other Union training;
  • Choose and liaise with training providers;
  • Ensure access to training for all members;
  • Oversee skill analysis, skill audit, training needs analysis or competency development;
  • Develop and monitor training plans;
  • Organise trainer training and workplace trainer strategy;
  • Monitor and evaluate skill development and training;
  • Identify new/training required for new equipment, products, methods, etc.
  • Oversee and direct selection process for workplace trainers and assessors, ensuring process is fair and consistent with the principle of merit and equal opportunity;
  • Ensure process is in place to address issues regarding workers not wishing to undertake training and/or any barriers to training;
  • Act as a Disputes Committee for any training decision disputes in consultation with the Union.

3.2 ROLE OF UNION REPRESENTATIVES AND OFFICIALS IN
ENTERPRISE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES.

The Enterprise Consultative Committee is an initiative of the Union, therefore is a Union issue.

Union representatives and officials involved in the ECC will apply Union policy.

Their role is to assist the representatives of the Union involved on the ECC to ensure members receive the opportunity to access training to enhance and advance within the enterprise.

4. TRAINING

Skill development and improved training systems are an important part of the restructuring of the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry and will ensure the continued viability of the industry.

The key issue is that at the end of any training/skill development process the worker should have the ability to carry out the work function competently. People learn in different ways, therefore training courses, which treat everyone the same, are not necessarily the best way of learning skills. Setting learning goals and allowing workers to reach that target by improving in ways which suit their individual learning requirements and abilities is a better approach to skill development.
For these reasons it is vital that the ECC have full involvement in the establishment of any training plan/training within the workplace.

5. COMPETENCY STANDARDS

National Industry Competency Standards are detailed descriptions of activities performed in the workplace. They also describe the minimum standard of performance. Competency Standards have been developed for each industry sector, including the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry.

Competency Standards ensure that training is relevant to workers because they relate to the tasks that workers perform. Competency Standards can be used as a guideline to determine further skill development requirements. Competency standards allow industry to tell training providers what type of training workers need.

Through the ECC, the enterprise will use Competency standards, which will arrange for workers to be assessed.

5.1 WHAT IS ASSESSMENT OF COMPETENCY?

Assessment is a process that workers go through in order to receive qualifications for their skills. A workplace assessor conducts the Assessment process in accordance with the Forestry and Furnishing Products Industry Assessment Manual. The workplace assessor is responsible for gathering evidence about a person's competence or ability to perform the task. This information is then checked against the relevant Industry Competency Standard using the evidence guide. All materials used for assessment are available to workers before the assessment, so there are no hidden surprises.

For effective workplace assessment to occur, the ECC will ensure:

  • The ECC oversee workplace assessment;
  • Workers wanting to be assessed, can be assessed;
  • Workplace Assessors are trained using Industry approved training courses.

All training and skill development materials are developed in consultation with industry, and the Union, produced and available through the Forest and Forest Employment Skills Company (FAFPESC), which is the National Industry Training Advisory Body for the Forest and Forest Products Industry.


6. IMPLEMENTATION

6.1 NATIONAL DIVISIONAL OFFICE

The National Divisional Office is responsible for:

Ensuring provisions for the ECC, consultation and training are included in the Forest and Building Products, Manufacturing and Merchandising (GENERAL) Award, other Awards or Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. The National Divisional Office is responsible for:

  • Development and distribution of resources to be used by Branches in negotiations on implementation of the role of the ECC on training in the Forest and Furnishing Products Industry.

  • Ensuring that suitable national training programs are available for representatives and members;

  • Consulting with Branches and keeping them informed about assessment issues.

  • 6.2 BRANCHES

Branches will be responsible for:

  • Ensuring ECC's are set up in enterprises and companies with a signed agreement covering their operations;

  • Ensuring representatives participate in training courses on ECC's, consultation and related matters;

  • Ensuring enterprises contribute to the consultation process during the development of assessment mechanisms;

  • Ensuring that enterprises implement the agreed national framework for assessment through the ECC;

  • Monitoring the enterprise consultative committee mechanisms and providing advice and support to representatives and members involved.

Recording information on Enterprise Consultative Committees mechanisms within their Branch including:

  • The number and location of all ECC's.

6.3 MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Members and representatives are responsible for:

  • Being actively involved in training issues which arise from the Enterprise Consultative Committee;

  • Advising the Branch Office of any problems which arise from the Enterprise Consultative Committee role in training:

  • Making suggestions to the Branch Office about improving the Enterprise Consultative Committee role in training.
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