4.1 This award covers employers throughout Australia of employees engaged in vehicle manufacturing and/or vehicle industry repair, services and retail, as defined in this clause, to the exclusion of any other modern award and where the employer's establishment, plant or undertaking is principally connected or concerned with:
(a) the selling, distributing, dismantling/wrecking, restoring, recycling, preparing for sale, storage, repairing, maintaining, towing, servicing, and/or parking of motor vehicles of all kinds, including caravans, trailers or the like and equipment or parts or components or accessories thereof including the establishments concerned for such vehicles and the like;
(b) operations or allied businesses concerned with selling, distributing or supplying running requirements for vehicles (including motor fuels, gas and oils);
(c) the selling and/or handling and/or retreading and/or storing/distribution and/or fitting and/or repairing of tyres or the like made of any material;
(d) the repair and servicing of motor vehicles in the establishment of an employer not falling within clauses 4.1(a), (b) and (c) but who is engaged in the motor vehicle rental business;
(e) the manufacturing, assembling or repairing of carriages, carts, wagons, trucks, motor cars, bodies, motorcycles, railway cars, tram cars, side-cars, or other vehicles or parts or components or accessories in wood, metal and/or other materials;
(f) manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, installing, servicing, maintaining, reconditioning or repairing of engines or vehicle servicing equipment and agricultural machinery or implements or the like where such employer immediately prior to 31 December 2009 was bound by clause 1.5.4 (a) of the Vehicle Industry Award 2000;
(g) any operation concerned with roadside/mobile service; or
(h) driving school instruction.
4.2 For the purposes of this award:
(a) employees engaged in vehicle industry repair, services and retail means employees covered by the classifications at clause 33 and for whom Section 1 - Vehicle Industry RS&R Employees applies; and
(b) employees engaged in vehicle manufacturing means employees covered by the classifications at clause 45 and for whom Section 2 applies.
Definitions and interpretation
automotive instrument mechanic means a tradesperson required to repair and service all makes and types of automotive instruments
automotive engine reconditioner means a tradesperson employed in a workshop principally concerned in the reconditioning of miscellaneous makes of used internal combustion engines where the engine and parts do not lose their identity and who, as part of their normal duties:
• is required to set up or set up and operate one or more of the following machines: crankshaft grinder, camshaft grinder, internal grinder, surface grinder, cylinder borer, line borer, con rod borer, honing machine, pin fitting machine, valve seat grinding and inserting machines, and including the machines enumerated in Machinist (metal) – 1st class;
• in the course of such work is responsible for determining sizes and tolerances of a precision nature in accordance with prepared technical data;
• uses in a tradesperson’s capacity the same precision tools and measuring instruments as are used by engineering tradespersons; and
• possess and uses the knowledge of automotive theory and practice obtained through satisfactorily completing an apprenticeship as an automotive engine reconditioner
automotive part interpreter (specialist) means an adult employee who:
• has completed a formal course of technical school training in the automotive parts distribution industry;
• is regulated by an apprenticeship authority or apprenticeship board constituted under this award and who is required by their employer to perform the duties related to automotive parts sales and distribution;
• is required in the performance of such duties to have and utilise a detailed knowledge of the workings of a wide range of vehicles and uses such knowledge to interpret the proper application of all component parts as required;
• has had at least seven years’ experience in the automotive parts distribution industry and who is required by their employer to perform the duties related to automotive parts sales and distribution; and
• is required in the performance of such duties to have and utilise a detailed knowledge of the workings of a wide range of vehicles and uses such knowledge to interpret the proper application of all component parts as required
automotive parts salesperson (experienced) means an employee who has had three or more years’ adult experience in the automotive parts distribution industry and who is required by their employer to perform the duties related to automotive parts sales and distribution and who in the performance of such duties is required to utilise knowledge of the workings of vehicles and component parts thereof
automotive serviceperson and/or checker means an employee, not being a tradesperson, engaged in checking and adjusting in the process of pre-delivery or after-sales service in accordance with manufacturers' periodic service procedures, excluding any function requiring a tradesperson's skill and knowledge
bodymaker - 1st class means a tradesperson engaged in the building, rebuilding, altering, without the aid of jigs, repairing or customising of passenger and/or commercial vehicle bodies, trailers and other vehicle bodies or chassis in wood/metal and other substitute material
bodymaker - 2nd class means an employee engaged in the building of bodies constructed with the aid of jigs
brake mechanic means a tradesperson required to diagnose faults in, repair and install all types of brake systems of motor vehicles including cars, commercial vehicles and heavy equipment
brake service person means an employee (not being a tradesperson) who does not diagnose faults or road test vehicles but who is required to install and replace brake components under supervision and/or is engaged in the reconditioning of brake components other than the checking and assembly of hydraulic assemblies
detailer means an employee (not being a tradesperson) whose work includes that of a paintshop assistant and/or polisher and/or cutter using buff or wet and dry rubber and/or painter – brush and/or spray on mechanical and/or chassis components, in addition to the cleaning and polishing of new and/or used vehicles
electroplater – 1st class means an employee who maintains the solutions used and is responsible for the electroplating of ware
electroplater – 2nd class means an employee not responsible for the solutions used and mainly engaged on electroplating
electroplater – 3rd class means an employee engaged on the barrel plating system
exhaust repairer means a person who repairs and/or replaces exhaust systems on motor vehicles, but does not include the repair, removal or replacement of any mechanical, electrical system or circuit or any electronic device associated with a motor vehicle, nor any component of the engine or any other skill which falls into a trade classification
machinist (metal) – 1st class means a tradesperson partly or wholly engaged in setting up and operating the following machines: lathe; boring machine; milling machine; planning machine; shaping machine; slotting machine; precision grinding machine and a drilling machine where the operator uses the same precision tools as fitters or turners
machinist (metal) - 2nd class means an employee not engaged as a tradesperson who is not required to work from drawings or prints or to do precision work, but who is engaged in operating or in setting up and operating all machines, other than a drilling machine, enumerated in definition of Machinist (metal) – 1st class
machinist (metal) – 3rd class means an employee other than a process worker who operates any power driven machine for which a rate is not elsewhere prescribed in this award and without limiting the scope of the foregoing includes such an employee operating any of the following: nut; bolt; rivet or dog spike making machines; tapping machines; and drilling machines on work other than that specified in the definition of Machinist – 1st class
motor mechanic means a tradesperson engaged in making or under jobbing conditions, repairing, altering or assembling (except in the production of new vehicles) or testing the mechanical and/or electric parts of the engine and/or transmission, and/or fuel system, and/or induction systems, and/or exhaust system, and/or steering mechanism, and/or suspension system and/or braking system, of motor vehicles but does not include:
(a) an employee engaged only in making minor adjustments; or
(b) an employee engaged in the reconditioning of engines by specialised methods except so much of the work which calls for the application for general trade experience as a motor mechanic.
motor vehicle salesperson means an employee employed in the sale of road and industrial vehicles, motorcycles, caravans, trailers and/or boats
packer means an employee responsible for the selection of parts or accessories according to requisitions or for the packing and method of packing for dispatch
paint shop assistant means an employee generally assisting in paint shop work including stopping up, rubbing down, masking, cleaning up and/or applying other than finish coats
panel beater means a tradesperson who repairs structural components, frames or panel work of motor vehicles constructed in whole or part from metal, metal alloys or substituted material and includes the formation of panels by hand and/or process
plant mechanic (New South Wales only) means a tradesperson engaged in repairing and/or overhauling wheeled, track or tractor type mobile equipment associated with construction equipment, earthmoving equipment, prime movers, or agricultural and industrial mobile equipment such as petrol, LPG and/or diesel engines, transmissions, hydraulics, electrical systems and ancillary equipment
process worker means an employee engaged:
• on repetition work on any automatic, semi-automatic or single purpose machine or any machine fitted with jigs, gauges or other tools rendering operations mechanical (and in connection with which the employee is not responsible for the setting up of the machine nor for the dimensions of the products other than by checking with gauges which are unadjustable, or if adjustable, will not be set by the operator);
• in the assembling of parts or mechanical appliances or other articles so made in which no fitting or adjustment requiring skill is required; or
• in specialised processes not requiring use of hand tools except hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, spanners and files and such tools as are necessary for deburring or removing rags or edging
radiator repairer – 1st class means a tradesperson working to prints or drawings or measurements applying general trade experience or knowledge to repair or recore of radiators, heating or cooling equipment and the repair of fuel tanks and the custom building of special radiators and fuel tanks
spring service worker means an employee employed on the removal and/or replacement of springs, luggage carriers and/or bumper bars, and/or the dismantling and/or reassembling of finished parts of motor car and truck chassis
tradesperson means an employee who, in the course of their employment, works from drawings or prints required to be scaled, and/or measured from drawings or prints, or makes precision measurements, or applies general trade experience and includes a locksmith and Machinist (Metal) – 1st class
tradesperson’s assistant means an employee directly assisting a tradesperson
tyre fitter means an employee fitting tyres and/or tubes to rims and/or wheels, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, wheel balancing and all operations associated with the removal and/or replacement of rims and/or wheels from or onto vehicles and/or wheeled equipment, including operations involving the use of the employee of compressing, mechanical and/or power operated apparatus
tyre repairing and retreading processes includes functions/operations of warming mill, extruder, detreading, buffing, gouging, pulling sleeves or patches, repairing, building up and/or retreading and/or recapping used tyres including aeroplane tyres, relugging earthmover, grader or tractor tyres by hand, moulding or curing of retreaded, rebuilt, recapped or relugged tyres in unit heater and autoclaves
vehicle industry RS&R employee means an employee classified appropriate to the employee’s skills, the duties required by the employer to be performed and the skill level definition detailed at Schedule B
vehicle manufacturing employee means an employee classified appropriate to the employee’s skills, the duties required by the employer to be performed and the skill level definitions detailed as Schedule C
welder – tradesperson means a tradesperson using electric arc, acetylene blowpipe or coal gas cutting plant on work other than filling castings, cutting scrap metal or using jigs and includes re-welding by hand processes
wheel builder and/or repairer means a tradesperson required to build and/or repair motor vehicle wheels including cutting out and replacing wheel centres, marking out and drilling, machining, welding and truing
Additional definitions – non-trades, trades and post-trades
boiler attendant or fireperson – 1st class means a boiler attendant or fireperson who attends to two or more boilers or two or more suction gas generators, or one boiler the evaporation capacity of which, attributed thereto by the maker exceeds 500 kilograms but less than 50 000 kilograms of steam per hour, or one gas generator supplying a total engine load capacity, attributed thereto by the maker, of not less than 750 kilowatts, and includes the boiler attendant or fireman of a steam navy extractor
boilermaker means a tradesperson required to develop work from drawings or prints, or to make templates, or to apply general trade experience in the fabrication, erection and/or repairing of steel or iron ships, boilers or other vessels subject to greater pressure than the weight of their contents including iron and steel receivers or retorts, also riveting by hand/or machine, caulking, chipping and operating all machines used in connection with the foregoing (other than stationary drilling machines) and carrying out such marking off, welding or oxy burning as is incidental to the work of a boilermaker
coremaker, jobbing means a moulder engaged in making cores for metal moulds by the use of loam or stickle boards or by loose boxes other than loose boxes used for repetition production of cores requiring little or no skill to produce
coremaker, machine means an employee making cores by machine where the core box is a fixture to or part of such machine, or making repetition cores requiring little or no skill to produce
drier means an adult employee using air hose to dry off after acid wash
electrical fitter means a tradesperson fitter mainly engaged in making, fitting or repairing electrical machines, instruments or appliances and who in the course of their work applies electrical knowledge
electrical mechanic means a tradesperson mainly engaged on electrical installation, repair and maintenance knowledge
electrician – special class means an electrical tradesperson required to apply the additional knowledge as defined to that required of Electrical fitter and/or mechanic as defined in this award and who has been for a period of at least six months mainly engaged in the manufacture and/or installation and/or maintenance of machines and/or equipment incorporating electronic equipment and will include any electrical tradespersons who by agreement with the employer is classified as Electrician – special class
(a) For the purpose of this definition additional knowledge means:
(i.) that acquired after six months’ experience; and
(ii.) that acquired in obtaining a fifth year trade certificate including the subjects Industrial Electronic I from the Electrical Trades School of South Australia or its equivalent or the satisfactory completion of the first year of one of the following courses, including:
• Post-Trade Industrial Electronics Course of the New South Wales Department of Technical Education;
• The Industrial Electronics Course as approved by the Education Department of Victoria;
• CN311 Electrical Course “C” of the Department of Education, Queensland; and
• The Industrial Electronics course of the Technical Education Department of Tasmania; or
(iii.) sufficient knowledge of hydraulics and pneumatics to enable the tradesperson to fault find in the said machines and/or equipment
heat treater means an employee required to apply general trade experience as a heat treater and who carries out the operation of heat treatment to produce in the materials treated such requirements as hardness, toughness, ductability, resistance to abrasion, elasticity, tensile strength, machine ability and resistance to creep and who works to limits in size, shape and straightness in tool work
jigmaker means a tradesperson engaged in the making of jigs
machine setter means a tradesperson engaged in setting up machines specified in the definition of Machinist (metal) – 1st class, for other employees
motor body developer means a tradesperson required to develop and mark up tooling work from body drafts, but not including an employee performing work normally done by pattern makers, tool makers, template makers, jig makers or body makers
moulder, jobbing means a metal moulder engaged in floor moulding, loam mouldings, trickle moulding or moulding from loose patterns
on the line means sectionalised body building and assembling in which bodies in the course of building are moved on from one operative group of operatives to another operative or group of operatives
painter - tradesperson means a tradesperson required to mix, match and apply paint and apply general trade experience
spring maker by hand means an employee required to manufacture spiral coils, flat or leaf springs by hand where such work does not fall within the definition of a tradesperson
structural steel tradesperson means a tradesperson engaged in assembling, plating, bolting (temporary or otherwise), riveting by hand/or machine, caulking, chipping, staying, reaming, drilling (other than on stationary machines) or such marking off, welding or oxy burning as is incidental to the foregoing, or who is the course of the work operates machines for punching and shearing, rolling, bending, angle or plate straightening, or hydraulic presses or nipping and notching machines, in connection with the making and/or repairing of tanks, water locks, towers (other than agricultural and pastoral types), wagons, tenders, trucks, rolling stock, bridges girders, columns, principals (roofs or otherwise), trusses, structural iron and steel work, but not including parts of standardised frame buildings made in quantities, or motor vehicle chassis, or new vehicles made by mass production methods
tooling smith means a tradesperson smith who for the greater part of their time is engaged on smithing work for the tool room
toolmaker means a tradesperson making and/or repairing any precision tool, gauge, die or mould to be affixed to any machine, who designs or lays out their work and is responsible for its proper completion and includes any tradesperson engaged in or in connection with the making of any tool, gauge, die or mould as aforesaid who by agreement with the employer is classified as a toolmaker
trimmer sectional means an employee (other than a tradesperson trimmer) engaged on any trimming work for which a specific rate is not otherwise prescribed by the award
trimmer, tradesperson means a tradesperson required to perform developmental work and/or work on used vehicles and/or work on custom built units and/or each and every function or production trim operations as directed by the employer
wood machinist – 1st class means a machinist who in the course of employment is called upon to grind and set knives only to braze, set and sharpen jig saws and to set and sharpen circular saws or to set up machines operated by other machinists or to grind knives or set and operate one or more of the following machines: shaper, spindle, linderman machine, router, tenoner, sill hing and other gainer machines