THE WA Industrial Relations Commission has yet to hand down a decision on the application for a Union of Employers.
Members of the WA Council of Retailers last month launched an application to register as a union of employers under the name The Small Business Association of Western Australia.
The application was criticised by IR advocates, who claimed the association’s name was misleading and were fearful of the unionisation of the small business sector.
One such complainant, Combined Small Business Association of WA chief executive officer Oliver Moon, said while his organisation opposed the union it was unlikely it would intervene.
Gamekeeper a poacher again
AFTER about a year as WA Premier Geoff Gallop’s press secretary, Grahame Armstrong has returned to the Sunday Times.
Mr Armstrong was the paper’s chief of staff before his move into politics and returns as its political reporter.
The Sunday Times has been without a dedicated political reporter since Graham Mason left to produce 6PR’s Baz and Barra breakfast show.
But how will the political masters react to a poacher, turned gamekeeper, turned poacher again? Such moves have proved controversial in the past.
Sunday Times chief of staff Bruce Butler said he did not see any such problems arising with Mr Armstrong acting as the paper’s political reporter.
A spokesman for WA Premier Geoff Gallop said Mr Armstrong would be able to bring an informed knowledge of the workings of Government to his new role.
“Grahame leaves with our best wishes and on good terms,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Opposition leader Colin Barnett said staffing decisions were not something Mr Barnett would comment on.
