THE metal industry is set to play a key part in the upcoming award modernisations effort by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC).
In a submission made to the AIRC Award Modernisation hearing on 28 May 2008, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) outlined a proposed update to the 1998 Metal, Engineering and Associated Industries award.
According to the AMWU, the new award, called the Metal Industry Award 2010 (MIA 2010), should group 110 industrial awards from 18 separate sectors into a single modern award. It would operate both as an industrial award and occupational award.
MIA 2010 would cover a wide range of industries, including metal working, engineering, and fabricating industries, in addition to all allied industries.
Since a range of other sectors, including aged care, coal, electrical occupational and the rail industry also operate on the Metal Industry Award, the scope of the award, despite its name, is fairly broad.
Awards from a gamut of industries will be drawn together to form MIA 2010. The modernisation process will be completed by 31 December 2009.

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