Formative Assessment Activity 11 question 2

“Average Joe”

Guidelines for
Managing Industrial Action

Issue Date: 23rd September 2019

Review Date: September 2019

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 CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Business Continuity Management

3. Establishing the Legality of the Industrial Action

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1. Introduction

1.1 The need to cope successfully with industrial action remains a key challenge for

many employers and managers. These guidelines have been developed to

provide managers with some written advice on action they need to take and

responsibilities they will have during a period of industrial action. These

guidelines address key issues that may arise but are by no-means exhaustive.

2. Business Continuity Management

2.1 Average Joe will have in place agreed processes to prepare for and manage

during episodes of industrial action. This will ensure that everyone understands their

role and provides an overall appreciation of the plan.

2.2 Upon Notice of Industrial Action

1. Organisation advises manager/or designated lead of notice of industrial

action.

2. Within the first 24hrs the manager/or designated lead will:

• Ascertain the number of staff who are considering taking industrial action

in their area (also consider worst case scenario i.e. all members of a union

in an area choose to take industrial action).

• identify impact on production identify any gaps.

• Rearrange all non-striking workers, if able, to minimise disruption to

service delivery, identify any gaps.

• Prioritise production, i.e.; where failure to provide timely delivery will affect

strategic outcomes.

• Match available staff capacity with provision of labour, identify any gaps.

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 • Inform Human Resources manager of capacity shortfall to maintain

production (this will inform senior managers’ decisions about the

deployment of staff across the business).

• As further intelligence becomes available relating to individual staff

decisions the plan should be reviewed and the line manager advised

accordingly, at least daily.

3. Establishing the Legality of the Industrial Action

Trade unions are required to comply with strict balloting and notification rules in

the FairWork Act 2009 in order for the industrial action to be immune from legal

liability.