Federal Court calling for IR lawyer feedback; Longest low wages growth since early '90s, says RBA; and SPC Ardmona workers win extra time to consider action.
The Fair Work Commission will engage an external "plain language expert" to redraft the Pharmacy Award before it is user-tested in a pilot as part of the tribunal's four-yearly review of modern awards.
Lawyers have told the Productivity Commission that its proposals to end tenure for new FWC appointees and to subject members to performance reviews would undermine the umpire's independence, while raising concern about a suggestion that only non-lawyers should determine matters in the proposed minimum standards division.
At the National Reform Summit in Canberra today, the ACTU will urge the Turnbull Government to adopt measures to boost multifactor and capital productivity, arguing that labour productivity has been growing and "is not the problem".
The Victorian Government has criticised the Productivity Commission's proposal to create a "two-tiered" penalty rate system, saying it is at odds with its overall view that there is no need for wholesale change to the Fair Work Act.
A full shutdown of BlueScope Steel's operation in Port Kembla would double the local unemployment rate to above 15% and deliver a $3.3 billion economic hit, according to a study commissioned by the AWU.
Hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses in the private sector are increasing at a record low of 2.2% a year in trend terms, according to the ABS Wage Price Index, released today.
The employer push for lower penalty rates in the Fair Work Commission includes expert evidence that most weekend workers have no problem or only minor problems with performing their duties on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Productivity Commission has called for the FWC in its four-yearly review of awards to align Sunday penalty rates in hospitality, entertainment, restaurants and cafes with those payable on Saturdays.
