In what a lawyer believes will result in one of the biggest wage theft penalty orders to date, the Federal Court has found an employer significantly underpaid two cooks, made "cashback" demands to recoup payroll tax and visa costs and used threats to ensure compliance.
The Perrottet Government in NSW says it is moving to massively increase fines for unlawful industrial action to send a "message" ahead of a teachers' strike, while a commissioner who blocked part of a PSA strike says it refused to meaningfully engage with the union on wages.
The ABCC says it is looking forward to providing further details of its pre-election meetings with the MBA, in response to a request by IR Minister Tony Burke, after a FOI request revealed discussions about anti-CFMMEU television commercials that urged Labor to retain the building watchdog.
The NTEU is set for a contested election for its key national full-time positions, against a backdrop of major university job losses in recent years, widespread investigations into wage theft and grassroots agitation over the extent of casual employment.
A finding that the FWC cannot keep dealing with disputes brought under old agreements once a new deal comes into effect has produced "arbitrary, anomalous and nonsensical outcomes" and is wrong, a full bench has held, calling for an amendment to the Fair Work Act to reflect the new precedent.
A senior FWC member has thrown out a union challenge to a Commonwealth-owned business's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, while observing that having a "predisposed view" does not mean an employer has failed to genuinely consult about new policies.
The Andrews Government has responded to IR Victoria's review of child employment legislation by introducing amendments to broaden the definition of employment, simplify the licensing system and extend its coverage to not-for-profit organisations.
The TWU is decrying the Flying Kangaroo's decision to seek special leave from the High Court to challenge the full Federal Court ruling that it took unlawful adverse action when it contracted-out its ground handling functions to prevent workers from exercising their workplace rights to bargain and engage in industrial action, while rival Virgin Australia has told its workforce that it will end its wage freeze.
The HSU is seeking in a Federal Court action to establish that outsourced kitchen and food services work performed in aged care facilities is covered by the industry's award rather than the lower-paying hospitality award.
