Sodexo's circuitous journey to a new offshore deal has taken another turn after the FWC gave unions the go-ahead to conduct a strike ballot despite arguments that a claim for workers to be provided only vegetarian meals showed they were not bargaining genuinely.
With the FWC about to redetermine a non-union Latrobe Valley power industry deal made with a handful of employees, the CFMMEU has lodged an urgent challenge to a decision denying it a protected action ballot order on the basis it was too late to propose an alternative, union deal.
About 1800 waterfront workers have today begun a campaign of rolling strikes at DP World container terminals across Australia this week, after the MUA and stevedore failed to reach agreement on a new enterprise deal.
The FWC has brokered a three-month truce between DP World Australia and the CFMMEU's MUA division under which the parties will resume bargaining and adopt a "neutral media stance".
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Protected industrial action will start at DP World's four container terminals on Friday in the form of work bans, followed by rolling stoppages in individual ports from next week.
Production workers at CUB's brewery at Abbotsford in Victoria are set for some Christmas cheer after striking an in-principle agreement on a new three-year deal that provides annual pay rises of 4%.
In a desperate and highly unusual attempt to have the FWC arbitrate a long-running bargaining dispute, the IEU has unsuccessfully applied to terminate its own industrial action on the basis it poses a danger to student welfare.
The FWC has rejected arguments that the CFMEU engaged in pattern bargaining during negotiations over agreements with two crane operators, clearing the path for indefinite strikes to begin early this morning.
National Rugby League referees are pushing ahead with a protected action ballot in pursuit of a ground-breaking enterprise agreement and greater job security than offered under their current 12-month contracts.
