Ahead of a 10-day full bench hearing of a bid to significantly shake-up the retail award, the ACTU has hit out at employers backing measures to "buy-out" core conditions for workers on as little as $53,680 a year, ditch "smokos" and introduce split shifts.
Workers have no right to disconnect from FWC proceedings and the Commission can order them to attend or give evidence outside of work hours, a presidential member has confirmed.
Professionals Australia has found the inclusion of a disconnect clause in an agreement or award doesn't go far enough and has drafted a model policy to drive the cultural change necessary to enable workers to exercise the right, which took effect in August for most workers.
The FWO has published a guide to the newly-declared voluntary code for small businesses - said to be a blueprint for employers of all sizes - to protect themselves from criminal liability under Closing Loopholes wage theft provisions from January 1.
The FWO has further tightened the screws on franchisors after the Federal Court agreed that it fell to Bakers Delight to disprove that it is liable for half of a liquidated franchisee's alleged underpayments of more than $1.2 million.
The Federal Court has today restrained HSU Victorian No 1 branch secretary Diana Asmar - accused of illegitimate reimbursements and engaging in a cashback scheme - from performing her duties, clearing the way for her deputy, David Eden, to temporarily take up the role.
The NTEU is calling for the FWO's "anti-wage theft model" to be rolled out nationally, after Sydney University entered an enforceable undertaking to make up more than $23 million in underpayments to more than 14,000 workers and Melbourne University did the same, for denying more than 25,000 workers a total of $72 million.
The Federal Court has approved a $19.25 million settlement to an underpayments class action targeting Justin Hemmes' Merivale, boosted from an earlier agreed sum of $18 million.
The FWC has renewed an MUA organiser's entry permit, finding his arrest at a rally opposing the war in Gaza relevant, but not enough to prevent him passing the fit and proper person test, and a "removed" CFMEU organiser has won a new permit after the old one's automatic cancellation.
