The Coalition has been cautioned about its plans to set up a registered organisations commission if it wins office by an IR academic who says a similar body established by the Thatcher Government received an underwhelming response.
The federal government's Fair Work Amendment Bill 2013 is through the House of Representatives with its right of entry provisions intact but with its bullying provisions delayed by six months and no expanded arbitration for greenfields bargaining or intractable disputes.
The BCA has called for an IR framework that provides for direct engagement between employers and employees, and a Productivity Commission inquiry into Australia's IR system.
BHP Billiton has warned the federal government that it would be making "an unreasonable and unnecessary incursion" into business decisions if it proceeds with its proposal to extend the right to request flexible working arrangements, while new requirements to consult over roster changes would hamper the "agility" required by employers to respond to changes in operational needs or customer demands.
The Federal Court has stayed a $300,000 Federal Magistrates Court penalties and backpay order against a call centre, while imposing a conditional security payment, acknowledging the employer's chances of a successful appeal are "not strong".
The Fair Work Commission has said it will renew entry permits for six CFMEU construction and general division organisers who have all been involved in contraventions of industrial laws in the last five years, but has asked for declarations that they have not committed any further indiscretions since their applications were lodged.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has today committed to introducing new laws that will enable bullying victims to seek rapid redress through the Fair Work Commission.
The ALAEA says FWA has cleared the way for it to pursue its bid to change its rules to cover a new category of unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineers at Qantas, after a full bench today rejected an application for orders to stop it representing the workers.
Fair Work Building and Construction chief executive Leigh Johns has challenged those who say the inspectorate should have intervened in the Grocon Supreme Court proceedings to identify the powers it could have relied upon, while the main players are about to head back for more talks with FWA President, Justice Iain Ross.
Grocon Constructors has shown the Victorian Supreme Court graphic footage of CFMEU protesters pushing back police horses in Melbourne's CBD this morning in its successful bid to extend a ban on union officials coming within 50 metres of the Emporium site.