The SDA has shot back at the ARA's claim that the FWC would be "abdicating" its duty if it delays a bid to reform penalty rates in the retail award ahead of mooted legislation, citing the Fair Work Act's commitment to upholding a stable system as reason to defer the matter.
In a genuine redundancy ruling, the FWC has confirmed that it simply needs to consider whether employers have notified a retrenchment in writing, rather than whether they have provided notice in "the most optimum manner".
The FWC's annual wage review expert panel has today granted a "sustainable" CPI-beating 3.5% rise in all award rates and the national minimum wage, emphasising that now the inflation genie is back in the bottle, it will no longer "defer" taking action to reverse the pandemic-driven reduction in real wages.
The SDA is challenging what it says is the FWC's failure to immediately terminate a long-expired substandard agreement, arguing that it did not properly consider the unfairness to workers when it allowed the deal to continue to operate for a further three months.
The FWC's annual wage review expert panel will hand down its 2024-25 ruling on Tuesday morning, after the newly-returned Albanese Government urged a real increase in the minimum wage and award rates, the ACTU sought a 4.5% rise and ACCI and AIG no more than 2.5% and 2.6% respectively.
The FWC has found that a mine superintendent who "supervised supervisors" is not covered by the professional employees award and his pay exceeds the high income threshold, rendering him unable to pursue his unfair dismissal claim.
The FWC has set aside 17 days from October 20 and November 25 for a full bench to hear a major SDA challenge to junior rates in the retail, fast food and pharmacy awards, while Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has responded to a call to weigh in.
A government agency has been scolded for failing to pay travel allowances after admitting that it slipped its notice that the claims had been processed manually by two firefighters, one of whom retired while the other went on extended leave.
The second-term Albanese Government has today delivered on a key election promise, asking the FWC's Annual Wage Review bench to grant an "economically sustainable" real increase in the minimum wage and award rates.
Workplace Relations Minister Senator Murray Watt will weigh into a gender undervaluation award review case to make it clear the wages of affected workers must not go backwards, after the ASU warned proposed changes to the community and disability sector award might leave some workers up to $700 a week worse off.
