Tuesday, April 25, 2006

State laws key to IR test case

The actions of a South Australian company which retrenched two apprentices under new federal workplace laws could be illegal under state law.

In a landmark case heard by the Grievances and Disputes Mediation Committee at the Adelaide Town Hall yesterday, SA Unions said it thought it was illegal, even under federal legislation, to sack an apprentice.

Third-year apprentice electricians Robert Elkson, 19, and Greg Garrard, 20, were fired without notice by Kadina electrical and plumbing company Mildwaters Trade Centre on March 27 - the same day the Federal Government's new workplace laws came into effect.

Unions SA representative Janet Giles said a positive outcome in the case could send a firm warning to SA employers.

"It is very important to have protective legislation at a state level," she said.

"To sack someone at a trainee level is a double-whammy.

"It takes away their job and their training.

"We need to safeguard our trainee system."

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