Pacific National unions have brought the company's operations almost to a standstill, after starting a 24-hour strike this morning over stalled bargaining negotiations.
Cole Bill passes Lower House, redundancy bill on next week; Andrews conflict between public and policy positions on long service, tells OEA to be careful; Queensland introduces minimum conditions legislation; HEWRR legislation referred to Senate Committee; Rally for sacked AWA worker; and Howard defends Boeing's refusal to negotiate collective agreement.
In an important ruling, an AIRC full bench has confirmed the Commission has the power to appoint external experts to conduct investigations and gather evidence that can then be used in private arbitration of disputes over enterprise agreements under s170LW of the Workplace Relations Act.
Eight months after their last agreement expired and following a spate of industrial action in a politically-charged environment, DEWR and the CPSU have struck an in-principle agreement on their next three-year deal.
The impact of trade practices law in employment matters continues to expand, with the WA Supreme Court finding three executives of an AFL club were accessories to a breach of the Trade Practices Act when they misled an assistant coach in negotiations for his job.
An employer has been ordered to pay $1,000 damages to a former colleague over a "bear hug", after the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal found it constituted sexual harassment under the State's Anti-Discrimination Act.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding has used his first speech to Parliament to throw down the gauntlet to the Howard Government on IR, saying it is time for the Government to start delivering family-friendly rather than market-friendly workplace policies.
Amendments introduced to Parliament last night set up the powerful watchdog over the construction industry that has the power to imprison industry participants who refuse to come to heel and impose heavy sanctions for unlawful activity in the sector, but jettisons a key provision - the outlawing of pattern bargaining.
