A gathering in Melbourne yesterday to celebrate the life of employer advocate George Polites heard tributes from IR Minister Kelly O'Dwyer and Hancock committee chair Keith Hancock.
George Polites, one of the nation's longest-serving and most prominent advocates for Australian industry, has passed away peacefully at his home in Melbourne, aged 100.
An FWC full bench has dismissed the CFMMEU's application for costs against the AMMA and MBA for their unsuccessful appeal against last March's merger creating the mega-union, finding the employer bodies' case "not unworthy of consideration".
ACCI has called on the federal government to fund 50 additional FWO inspectors to address the "serious problem" of underpayments, while also recommending an increase in the FWC's budget to hasten agreement approvals.
A Full Federal Court has dismissed the Australian Mines and Metals Association's application to quash two FWC decisions approving the merger of the CFMEU, MUA and TCFU, offering a brief history lesson as to why outstanding civil penalty proceedings posed no barrier to the amalgamation.
The Australian Industry Group is warning employers not to rush in to making agreement undertakings incorporating a recent key decision on casual leave until the Federal Court determines a challenge to the ruling's ambit.
The construction watchdog is investigating whether Master Builders Tasmania charged induction fees for more than 120 Chinese plasterers in order to work on a major project in Hobart.
IR Minister Kelly O'Dwyer is intervening in Workpac's bid to block a casual from winning leave entitlements or to "off-set" his claims with loading and flat rates already paid, while the CFMMEU says it will also seek to intervene to protect principles established in Skene.
Employer groups have stepped up pressure on the Morrison Government to prevent casual workers "double dipping" by claiming annual leave on top of 25% pay loading in the wake of a crucial decision by the Full Federal Court last month.
