Page 55 - Print 21 Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

Association News Latest update from the Printing Industries Association of Australia
review of award categories, which will see the evolution of the awards to celebrate commercial value as well as technical quality and innovation. This, in turn,
will help PIAA promote print.
To improve the reach of this programme, entrance fees for the print awards have been waived for all members for their first entry for 2019.
Speak to the power
Part of the success of P2P! was derived from the extensive lobbying and advocacy work that PIAA engaged in during the year. This has significantly raised the profile of our industry with policy planners, and ensured that the interests of the visual communications sector are protected. Additionally we’ve been regularly engaged representing members and the industry to the Fair Work Commission, and on a number of occasions to the Federal Court.
Fundamental to PIAA’s representation of the industry
is Industrial Relations. The industrial environment encompasses award reviews, union negotiations, Fair Work hearings and vocational training. Much of this is inter-related.
HR advice works
PIAA also launched its comprehensive online HR advisory service in 2018, which saw response times for standard queries become immediate in 90 per cent
of cases, with only a small minority requiring extended consultation. The online library of resources was well received, with those members who have used the service recording repeated engagement.
Your industrial staff was central to the Print and Graphic Arts Award review that has been ongoing throughout
the year. Integral to this is vocational training. Advocacy ensured that the South Australian apprentice training was saved. In some areas,
collaboration between employer associations (PIAA) and
unions (AMWU) was critically important to achieving positive outcomes. Our industry must be watchful for vested interests attempting to divert us from industry-desired outcomes.
“Members are automatically covered by the Federal award rather than the State award, which has substantial benefits
to the employer.”
The collaboration of PIAA and AMWU on vocational training brought us Future Print, and we envisage that an enhanced version of that programme will emerge.
PIAA members drove the early stages of the national energy policy debate, which
is now seeing our Federal and State Governments, start to take action to focus on the energy consumer’s need for reliable and less costly delivery. PIAA will continue to prosecute this argument.
PIAA has stepped up and negotiated a service on energy efficiency. This programme
will offer members services
in reducing their energy consumption, and is forecast
to deliver significant saving to participants. The service has just commenced to roll out. It will be offered to all Sustainable Green Print accredited members.
PIAA also has an international role. PIAA sits on both the World Print and Communications Forum, and the Forum of Asia Pacific Graphic Arts. Both are formal associations of the peak print organisations in each country. Membership is restricted to the peak print organisation in each country. At both of these forums, we presented papers on standards, industry trends and industrial issues.
Strong
PIAA is strong because it represents one industry, and is focused on that one industry, and is led by volunteers from that industry. It is owned by members and governed by a constitution that is regulated through Government oversight. This gives PIAA clarity and unity of purpose, as well as transparency of governance.
The print and packaging sector remains central to commerce and communication, and despite the disruption of
Profile raised: Printers and politicians meet at the PIAA organised Print2Parliament!
email and internet, remains the driving force behind all visual communication. Convergence of technology has seen the packaging sector become part of print, as has wide-format, signage and labelling, as well as 3D and electronic circuitry. All have become accepted branches of our vibrant print industry.
Recognising this technology and industry convergence, in the last year the peak body of the Australian packaging sector, the Packaging Council of Australia, merged into the PIAA. At some point, our name will need to evolve to reflect this. Our board
is of the view that such a name change needs to be driven by members and be achieved through consultation and consensus.
2019 in focus
In 2019, all current economic surveys indicate tightening.
As the year commences neither Government nor Opposition appear to have coherent plans to boost business confidence, nor consumer demand.
Last year saw increased pressure on key inputs in our sector: cost of energy, cost of labour, cost of post, cost of paper. We see forecasts of increased industrial intransigence from the ACTU, a Fair Work Commission that remains unreformed, and
a Federal election in which industrial policy will likely
be central.
With regional variations, the skilled labour market appears to be tightening. Vocational Education and Training (VET) remains a policy area in flux, with different policy and priorities between States and the Federal level. Funding and delivery remain undecided, which leaves employers and apprentices in limbo. Skilled labour visas appear to be restricted, just at a time when industry cannot either secure or train local staff. 21
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