The Fair Work Commission's inquiry into the HSU's recent troubles with entry permit applications, first aired in the Heydon Royal Commission, is nearing its conclusion.
An FWC full bench has rejected a "well-resourced" company's argument that the complexity of an unfair dismissal case required that it be represented by a lawyer.
The FWC has granted rare extensions of time for workers to lodge their unfair dismissal claims, after accepting that their legal representatives were responsible for delays.
Uncertainty remains as to whether electricity distributor Essential Energy can shift some managers and senior technical employees onto individual contracts, despite a FWC full bench overruling an earlier "scope" decision.
A leading silk has told a gathering of major employers that the federal government should adopt the Harper competition review's recommendation to outlaw agreement clauses that limit employers' use of contractors and labour hire employees.
The Federal Court has criticised the CFMEU for its "deplorable" approach to complying with the law, ordering it to pay a penalty of more than $100,000 for a series of breaches on a wind farm construction site and to stop interfering in the project.
The Victorian Government has revealed that its employee expenses will grow by just over 7% this financial year, ahead of bargaining for major replacement agreements with public sector workers over the next year.
ACTU secretary Dave Oliver has used a behind-closed-doors speech to call for employers to work with unions on a "new vision for jobs in Australia" rather than supporting the Abbott Government's IR agenda.