The on-going Pilbara battle between Rio Tinto and the state-based AMWU, CEPU and CFMEU moves to the federal AIRC next week, with the mining giant seeking to restrain the State IRC from continuing to hear the unions' bid to improve award workers' pay and condition.
The NSW IRC has fined a local government council $5,000 for breaching a requirement under the award to inform a consultative committee before implementing any changes to new employees' spread of hours.
The NSW Opposition has weighed into the debate over the state IRC's so-called "march" into commercial law, and has criticised the length of time it has taken to get the Mitchforce hotel lease case through the system.
Paid maternity leave guarantee for Telstra workers; Andrews says long-term family support more important than a few weeks of paid maternity leave; We're not spruiking AWAs to schools, says OEA; McCann to boost AWU's organising capacity in WA; and BHPB ties chief's pay to OHS and environmental performance.
In an important decision, the AIRC has recognised Smorgon Steel's influence on the employment security of workers involved in the long-running labour hire bargaining battle at its site, and has found a dispute exists between it and the CEPU (electrical division).
Just weeks ahead of Virgin Blue's float, the Institute of Public Affairs has found the Qantas agreement for customer service and administrative employees provides fewer restrictive work practices and limits on managerial prerogative than a similar Virgin deal.
The ACTU will seek a $26.60-a-week wage rise next year for Australia's 1.6 million award workers, the secretary of the peak union body, Greg Combet, announced today.
A Federal Court full bench has found a cleaner to be an employee of a cleaning company, despite the company moving the worker to a labour hire company that engaged him under a purported Odco-style independent contracting arrangement.
BHP Billiton has defended its right to make AWAs a condition of employment in the Pilbara, despite a letter from the UN which the CFMEU (mining & energy division) maintains backs its claim that the company is breaching its international obligations.
