A decision on the inclusion of paid domestic violence leave in all modern awards drew closer yesterday as the Federal Court began the task of grappling with the fallout from FWC Vice President Graeme Watson's resignation from the adjudicating bench.
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.
The FWC has cleared the road for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade to continue disciplinary action against a suspended firefighter who repeatedly made threatening and profane comments on public social media channels, including the MFB's own.
Two unions are poised to lodge legal challenges to penalty rate cuts as early as tomorrow after the Fair Work Commission issued determinations on transitional arrangements in the retail and hospitality sectors.
The HSU says it is unlikely to pursue former national secretary and ex-Labor MP Craig Thomson for the repayment of about $378,000 because it would incur further legal costs with little chance of recovering the money.
The FWC has declined to issue anti-bullying orders despite finding the allegations proved, reasoning that the employer had sufficiently reduced the risk of further incidents by changing the antagonist's job to ensure minimal contact between the parties.
The FWC has reinstated a nurse dismissed while recovering from a serious car accident and a work-related needle-stick injury, expressing "dismay" at the hospital's failure to inquire about her ability to return to her previous role.
A bank manager who turned up for work five days after being fired with immediate effect has had her unfair dismissal claim rejected on the basis that she fell marginally short of the minimum six month employment period required by the Act.
Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM has been announced as the incoming President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, beginning her seven-year term on July 30 in the wake of controversial recent changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
The Federal Court will this week begin the process of deciding complex legal issues raised about the composition of Fair Work Commission full benches following the resignation of Vice President Graeme Watson earlier this year.
