Wage increases have tumbled to 3.8% in federal collective agreements certified in the March quarter - the last one that will include large numbers of non-Work Choices deals.
The record $20 flat increase (raising the minimum wage by 4.1%) delivered to all NSW award-covered workers today by the State IRC is sure to put pressure on the Fair Pay Commission to support a substantial rise when it makes its first minimum pay determination in spring.
An attempt by packaging giant Visy to prevent workers at one of its Perth sites from attending unions' national day of protest on Wednesday has failed, after the AIRC found last night there was insufficient evidence that union members intended to take industrial action.
NSW and WA wage case decisions on Monday, with Perth ruling live on the web; Two employer clientele silks appointed to Federal Court; Labor outraged at Andrews staffer appointment as Federal Magistrate; and Work bans start at Victorian Aids Council.
Employers generally can't lawfully refuse to interview a job applicant just because of their criminal record, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has found.
The South Australian Government is preparing legislation to change the employment powers of state government boards or agencies to prevent them being caught by Work Choices, and has also introduced a new procurement policy aimed at maintaining existing terms and conditions.
The Independent Contractors Bill introduced by the Howard Government today seeks to remove contractors from industrial regulation by halting state and territory "interference" in genuine independent contracting arrangements, while introducing new sanctions against "sham" arrangements. However, unions say the changes will open the way for big business to drive down pay for both contractors and employees.
Independent Contractors Bill to be introduced tomorrow; Queensland IRC to begin Work Choices inquiry on Friday; NSW IR department head raises doubts about adequacy of OWS inspectorate; Andrews tenders for advisors on “fair and proper” employment termination practices; Only new employees to be offered AWAs at Spotlight; and Qantas announces redundancies, but will retain catering business.
Work Choices' protected action provisions will receive judicial consideration for the first time after United Collieries - which has been subject to industrial action at its Stanhope mine during a bargaining dispute with the CFMEU - applied for a declaration from the Federal Court.
