The Fair Work Commission will get just over $74 million in funding under the 2017-18 federal budget — a 5% cut — as it loses some functions to the new Registered Organisations Commission.
The AWU's Victorian branch says that accepting a briefing from construction watchdog Nigel Hadgkiss was a "mistake" and it will stand united with other construction unions in opposition to the ABCC.
The Federal Court has acknowledged in imposing more than $100,000 in fines on the AMWU, AWU and CFMEU and their organisers for taking unlawful industrial action and adverse action against Australian Paper that the unions only became involved when they "properly responded to the workers' needs".
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has imposed the first-ever sanction under the national construction code against a builder, temporarily prohibiting J Hutchinson Pty Ltd from securing federal contracts, while the CFMEU has hardened its position against re-opening deals to make them compliant with the latest changes to the 2016 code.
The Federal Court has today imposed $1,300 individual fines on more than 50 construction workers who took unprotected industrial action to attend a rally at Perth's children's hospital project in 2013, while it has thrown out an ABCC adverse action case against the CFMEU construction and general division's ACT branch and officials.
Supporting the ABCC, improving business productivity and attracting more women into the building industry are among the top priorities for new Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn, who will take over the top job from Wilhelm Harnisch later this month.
The CFMEU will stage a national protest over the re-establishment of the ABCC next week as part of its broader campaign against the Turnbull Government's workplace reform agenda.
The Federal Court has imposed $1,000 individual penalties on 19 workers who stymied a concrete pour when they unlawfully walked off a Perth construction site.
The Senate last night passed unamended the Turnbull Government’s legislation to reduce the phase-in period for the 2016 national construction code from two years to nine months.
A court has fined the CFMEU and two organisers almost $100,000, after finding the union engaged in unlawful coercion and adverse action when it organised a blockade at the $1.6 billion Port of Melbourne expansion project because an employer refused to bargain.