52—Negotiations for agreement for work group
(1) A work group is to
be determined by negotiation and agreement between—
(a) the
person conducting the business or undertaking; and
(b) the
workers who will form the work group or their representatives.
(2) The person
conducting the business or undertaking must take all reasonable steps to
commence negotiations with the workers within 14 days after a request is
made under section 50.
(3) The purpose of the
negotiations is to determine—
(a) the
number and composition of work groups to be represented by health
and safety representatives; and
(b) the
number of health and safety representatives and deputy health and
safety representatives (if any) to be elected; and
(c) the
workplace or workplaces to which the work groups will apply.
(4) The parties to an
agreement concerning the determination of a work group or groups may, at any
time, negotiate a variation of the agreement.
(5) The person
conducting the business or undertaking must, if asked by a worker, negotiate
with the worker's representative in negotiations under this section (including
negotiations for a variation of an agreement) and must not exclude the
representative from those negotiations.
Maximum penalty:
(a) in
the case of an individual—$10 000;
(b) in
the case of a body corporate—$50 000.
(6) The regulations
may prescribe the matters that must be taken into account in negotiations for
and determination of work groups and variations of agreements concerning
work groups.