The Productivity Commission says the workplace tribunal should have a "fast-track process" for early involvement in industrial disputes on the docks, while waterfront employers should have more options for taking their own protected action beyond lockouts.
Unions say an "eleventh hour" NSW Government ultimatum to seek to terminate deals covering train workers unless they call off all protected action by tomorrow afternoon is a clear example of the type of action that federal IR Minister Tony Burke will not support.
A prominent IR academic has told today's jobs summit that the optimism that attended the Fair Work Act's introduction in 2009 was "misplaced", with workers in the years since unable to effectively exercise power when bargaining.
The Perth-based newspaper group controlled by billionaire Kerry Stokes has struck an in-principle agreement with three unions, ending an 11-week lockout.
Striking NSW paramedics and hospital workers will on Thursday add to mounting pressure on the Perrottet Government to ditch its 2.5% cap on public sector pay rises, deliver a significant catch-up increase, update awards and open up productivity-based bargaining.
In a decision closely examining the FWC's powers to make scope orders, a full bench majority has found that an employer's failure to spell out classifications for a proposed agreement rendered the process "defective".
The AMWU has accused the Perth-based newspaper group controlled by billionaire Kerry Stokes of engaging in a "war of attrition" against its printers through a long-running lockout during stalled enterprise bargaining.
Maritime unions have turned to a former senior FWC member in an effort to secure a new deal with the country's biggest tug operator after two years of fruitless negotiations.
The FAAA says it has resumed negotiations with Qantas to avoid "enormous pay cuts" if the airline continues to pursue its application to terminate their agreement and push long-haul cabin crew onto award pay and conditions.