The chairman of a peak small business lobby group has hit back at claims it was played by the union movement over industrial relations changes, insisting multi-employer bargaining is different to pattern bargaining and would encourage flexibility and productivity in workplaces.

Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia chairman Matthew Addison told The Australian Financial Review the lobby group remained opposed to pattern bargaining as the Albanese government begins consultations on IR changes following last week’s Jobs and Skills Summit.