The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) after playing a key role in stopping the Rudd government from introducing the Resources Super Profits Tax has decided to set up a fighting fund to finance court challenges against rulings of Fair Work Australia.
Fair Work Australia is the workplace relations tribunal and the AMMA is likely to finance the fund by seeking $500,000 from its members. The fund will be used to finance legal challenges for the tribunal’s decisions that go against the employer’s interests.
The association’s chief executive Steve Knott said that the IR Foundation Fund will be used to mount legal challenges against a number of judgements that are pushing the limits in terms of the new IR laws. He added that last week’s strike first, talk later ruling would also be challenged in the Federal Court and if need be in the High Court.
Minna Knight a spokesperson for the AMMA said that the fund had been agreed upon months ago adding that there had been an array of FWA determinations, where several decisions could best be described as creative, some may say 'activist' determinations that are not in the interests of employers.
Fair Work Australia had ruled last week that unions can take industrial action in non bargaining periods and where majority workplace support for industrial action is yet to be determined. The Australia Industry Group however was disappointed by the decision.