Page 54 - Print 21 Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

Association News
News updates from the printing industry
2018 – what a year for the PIAA
PIAA, under an evolving series
of names, has represented the printing industry
for more than 130 years.
Our industry has been at the forefront of change since its inception, with print technology evolving rapidly, never more so than in the digital age.
The print sector remains central to commerce and communication, and despite the disruption of email and internet remains the driving force behind all visual communication. Convergence of technology has seen the packaging sector become part of print, as wide format, labelling, 3D, and electronic circuitry all become accepted branches of our industry.
The print and packaging industry is dynamic and constantly evolving, as visual communications are central to our economy. Members
of the sector engage in a competitive market with
no barriers to entry. In this market, we see the print
sector compete against foreign imports, continuing energy price inflation, environmental imposts, dramatic increases in paper prices, erratic vocational training delivery, and an increasingly unstable industrial relations regime.
Dynamic environment
In this dynamic environ- ment, what a busy year 2018 has been for the print and packaging industry, and by extension, for your peak industry association, PIAA.
Your association has been actively representing members in all these areas this year. Key to a strong industry is a strong, coherent voice representing the industry. Your Board has been proactive in raising the profile of our industry with policy makers at both Federal and State level. PIAA has been successful in this mission due to the board having a clear strategy for industry representation, and by ensuring
Andrew Macaulay
Andrew Macaulay, PIAA CEO, looks back over what has been
an all action year for print’s peak association.
that politicians and policy makers know that the industry has one representative voice.
PIAA members hosted more than 70 Federal politicians at Print2Parliament this year, an event created to showcase both the value of print and the issues facing our industry. Positive engagement from attendees followed, including engagement in the some key industrial relations actions related to the re-definition of casuals and the benefits accruing to them.
Part of the success of P2P
was derived from the extensive lobbying and advocacy work that PIAA has been engaged in during 2018. This work has significantly raised the profile of our industry with policy planners, and ensured that the interests of the visual communications sector are protected. Over the course of this year, PIAA Directors and staff have held meetings with 116 politicians and nearly 190 policy advisors or public servants.
Additionally, PIAA has been regularly engaged representing members and the industry to the Fair Work Commission, and 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 work is inter-related. Your association has been effective in this arena.
PIAA also launched its comprehensive online HR advisory service in 2018, which saw response times for standard queries become immediate in ninety percent of cases, with
only a small minority requiring extended consultation. The online library of resources has been well received, with those members who have used the service recording repeated engagement.
Your industrial staff were central to the Print and Graphic Arts Award review that has been ongoing throughout
2018. Integral to this is vocational training. Advocacy led by members of PIAA Board ensured that South Australian apprentice training was saved.
In some areas, collaboration between employer associations (PIAA) and unions (AMWU) are critically important to achieving positive outcomes. We must be watchful for vested interests attempting to divert from industry desired outcomes.
“Your Board has been proactive in raising the profile of our industry with policy makers at Federal and State levels.”
The collaboration of PIAA and AMWU on vocational training brought Future Print, and we envisage that an enhanced version of that programme will emerge from the work that PIAA and AMWU are leading through the Print and Graphic Arts Industry Reference Committee, which defines vocational training requirements.
PIAA members drove the early stages of the national energy policy debate, which is now seeing our Federal and
State Governments, finally, 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.
Energy efficiency
Due to sustained Government and Opposition policy failure on energy, the PIAA has stepped
up and negotiated an exciting 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
roll out, and will be offered
to all Sustainable Green Print accredited members.
Sustainable Green Print
has been lauded by an international expert on industry self-regulation as a world-leading programme. PIAA was successful in ensuring that SGP was a requirement
for Commonwealth Games procurement, and we are seeking extension of this into all State Government procurement.
PIAA is strong because it represents one industry, and is focused on that one industry, and is led by volunteers from that industry. This gives it clarity and unity of purpose. We are grateful for the leadership provided by our members, with the ultimate time contribution coming from our Board. One weakness of our Constitution, unlike most other associations, is that there is no term limit
for sitting on our Board. This resulted in stagnancy. The retiring PIAA Board has taken active steps to implement generational change and succession planning.
Ongoing PIAA Board members have been joined
by print business owners of significant stature, all of whom represent new thinking and generational change.
There is no doubt 2019 will bring exciting opportunities for the visual communications sector. 21
54 Print21 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018