The Screen Industry Workers Act allows access to a range of dispute resolution services for parties in the screen industry. These services apply by default to those covered by the Act. Parties to a contract can agree to use different resolution processes for individual and collective contracts.
Mediation
Parties can access free mediation through Employment Mediation Services to help resolve their dispute.
Mediation is a confidential service where an independent person (mediator) gives impartial guidance and recommendations to parties in a dispute to help them reach agreement.
For more information on mediation, including how to request mediation, see Employment Mediation Services
Alternatively, a private mediator can be used, but this may come at a cost to parties.
Facilitation by the Employment Relations Authority
Where mediation has failed to resolve a collective bargaining dispute, parties can apply for facilitation from the Employment Relations Authority. At facilitation, a member of the Authority helps parties during bargaining by acting as a facilitator.
Facilitation is only available for disputes during collective bargaining.
For more information, including when parties can apply for facilitation, see the Employment Relations Authority website (external link)
Determination by the Employment Relations Authority
If a dispute remains unresolved even after mediation and facilitation, a party can apply to the Employment Relations Authority for a determination, which is a legally binding decision on a dispute.
Once an application has been submitted, the responding party or parties will be notified and given the opportunity to provide further information before the Authority makes its determination.
The Authority will follow a special process when making determinations that fix terms in collective contracts. This process is called final offer arbitration.
For more information, see the Employment Relations Authority website (external link)
Challenging a determination
There are several options if a party or parties are not happy with the outcome of a determination made by the Employment Relations Authority.
For more information, see the Employment Relations Authority website (external link)
Related information
What work is covered by the Screen Industry Workers Act
Contracts between engagers and workers