Union Services

Turner Freeman is proud of its history as a labour law firm. The firm has advised and represented trades unions since its establishment more than 65 years ago. We continue to act for a number of substantial and important trades unions.

Turner Freeman Lawyers has acted for trades unions for more than 65 years. We are proud of our record in assisting unions.

Turner Freeman’s experience in acting for unions and their members means that we are uniquely placed to advice on industrial issues, on enterprise bargaining negotiations as well as on occupational health and safety and internal union disputes.

Areas of work where we have assisted trade unions:

• legal strategies in pursuing industrial objectives;
• interpretation and application of Federal and State awards, agreements and legislation;
• representing unions in statutory and quasi judicial inquiries;
• defending unions and their members against industrial torts actions and prosecutions;
• negotiations for enterprise agreements
• adverse actions and general protection claims
• fighting sham contracting arrangements;
• federal and state anti-discrimination claims;
• disputes over rights of entry.

Dispute and Industrial Action Advice

The capacity for workers to take industrial action is heavily regulated. Turner Freeman has experience in advising on dispute and industrial action.

The capacity of employees to take collective industrial action is a very complex area of law. Breach of the processes can lead to substantial fines and other penalties for the workers in breach and for their unions.

The Fair Work Act sets out the very limited circumstances in which employees and their unions can take strike action and other industrial action. It also sets out a detailed procedure (including secrete ballots) required before industrial action s can be commenced.

Turner Freeman’s experience enables us to provide sound, aggressive but pragmatic advice on the legal and tactical aspects of industrial action.