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The ROC has launched an inquiry into the HSU's Tasmanian branch over an alleged "termination payment" provided to former state secretary and current national secretary Chris Brown, while the CEPU has dismissed an ROC investigation into reporting breaches as a scare tactic.

The ASX-listed law firm Slater & Gordon has announced plans to cut more than 90 jobs, close 10 offices and relocate others to cut costs as part of a "business-wide transformation plan".

The Senate yesterday expanded the Fair Work Ombudsman's investigative powers, while imposing limits on the matters it can examine.

The ROC has updated its Federal Court claims against the TWU after the union found a back-up of its Queensland membership database it said was lost when the outgoing state secretary made all the branch's employees redundant in 2010, but the watchdog says it lacks vital information about who could vote.

Australia must "redress the imbalance in bargaining power" held by workers and unions to reduce economic inequality, according to Federal Opposition workplace spokesperson, Brendan O'Connor.

The FWC today gave a strong signal that it is anxious to bring to a head Coles employee Penny Vickers' bid to terminate the supermarket giant's enterprise agreement, acknowledging criticism that the case had dragged on before granting the night-fill worker an extension to supply supporting documents.

Slater & Gordon has been hit by another key departure from its IR and employment team, according to Victorian legal sources.

Fair Work Commission President Iain Ross has given parties involved in the domestic violence leave case one week to provide submissions in response to the full bench's preliminary view that affected employees should have access to unpaid leave.

The main protagonists have landed their last blows ahead of Sunday penalty rate cuts coming into effect this weekend, United Voice calling on restaurant and pub patrons to pressure bosses over whether they value their staff, while AiG insists that July 1's parallel "hefty" minimum wage rise not only sees workers better off, but saddles employers with bigger wage bills.

United Voice has launched its Federal Court challenge to the FWC's decision to cut Sunday penalty rates, arguing that the Commission "misconceived" its obligation to uphold workers' living standards.