Mediation And Industrial Relations

The new “Work Choices” Amendment came into effect in March 2006, and included a compulsory model dispute-resolution process that doesn’t involve unions. Mediation and other ADR processes have been encouraged by the government as a better option than the services provided by unions. The government has realized the benefits of mediation to include the following:

• Mediation is cost saving
• Avoids polarization of parties
• Is educative
• Probes wider issues than the formal court system
• Provides greater access to justice
• Gives disputants more control over the dispute process