Freedom of association
Freedom of association is the right of any worker to join a union. By law, your employer cannot stop you joining a union and you cannot be discriminated against for being a union member.
It is illegal for any employer to sack someone for being a union member. If this does occur, your union will be able to get you reinstated.
(Recent decision)
The Federal Court has fined a manufacturing company whose managing director made anti-union speeches to its workers and threatened to dismiss toolmakers if they joined a union. The AMWU alleged that DMG Industries breached Part XA of the Workplace relations Act. The company conceded it had breached s298K of the Act and agrred to reimburse the union for its costs and agreed to provide written undertakings against such action in the future. AFMEPKIU V DMG Industries Pty Ltd, Fed Ct (Marshall J), 2 June 1999, (1999) 46 AILR ¶4-095.
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