Contract changes

Employers should never make contract changes without consulting either the union, other employee reps (if there is no recognised union) or the individual employee.

Contract terms can only be changed through agreement.

Contracts can be changed lawfully:

• if the parties agree (expressly or by implication) to the change;

• through collective bargaining; or

• through a valid, clear and express flexibility clause, already agreed in the contract, that permits unilateral change (see pages 68 and 79).