For many businesses MTA membership is an essential requirement. Business people in these enterprises are very familiar with the services of MTA, and they use them. Their MTA membership adds value to their business.

One of the key services provided by MTA is its employment relations assistance services. The role that MTA plays in this field is very highly regarded by politicians and governments and their departments. The MTA knowledge and guidance provided to members is second to none. Indeed the Workplace Ombudsman Office has been known to contact our office and seek advice on the application of award provisions and certain general issues from time to time.

At a recent NSW Industrial Relations Society event the Chief Counsel for the Workplace Ombudsman, Mr Leigh Jones stated that his Department had never launched an action against a member of an employer organisation. What does this tell you? Well the Workplace Ombudsman says that the sound advice provided by organisations such as the MTA was the best insurance policy against the intervention by the Workplace Ombudsman. Mr Jones said in his address to the forum that if I was an employer organisation “I would be out there selling the fact that they are an insurance policy against an intervention by the Workplace Ombudsman.”

Mutual levels of respect between MTA and the Workplace Ombudsman and a common desire to assist MTA members meet their obligations will generally see our organisations work through the issues with a view to resolving the problem without the need for prosecution. In recent times the Workplace Ombudsman has shown a rekindled level of desire to prosecute, to set examples under the new Fair Work Act – legislation that has substantially increased penalties.