Business union bid fails

A PLAN to create an employers’ union has been rejected by the Full Bench of the WA Industrial Relations Commission.

To be called the Small Business Association of WA, the union proposal was put forward by Vincent Mayor and WA Council of Retail Associations chief Nick Catania.

However, several small business groups, including the Coalition of Small Business Associations of WA and the WA Retailers Association, opposed the move.

In his decision, WAIRC president Peter Sharkey drew attention to several points, such as the fact the application seemed to be for the WA Council of Retailers to be the “small business union” and whether there would be overlap with other organisations registered with the WAIRC.

He also asked whether the meeting of the Small Business Association of WA’s executive that purported to authorise the making of the WAIRC application had indeed been inquorate.

The association’s rules required a quorum of five, while only four people were recorded as having attended the meeting.

COSBA CEO Oliver Moon said his organisation was pleased the application had been rejected.

“The name of the organisation they were trying to get registered was misleading and under law you’re not allowed to do that,” he said.

WA Retailers Association CEO Martin Dempsey said it was fair to say the WAIRC had not thought much of the application.

WA Business News could not contact Mr Catania for comment.