The ACTU is seeking to build opposition to cutting weekend penalty rates through a mass door-knock in marginal seats across Australia in mid-September, while employer associations are pushing crossbench senators to back the Government's bill to re-establish the ABCC.
The Productivity Commission has called for the FWC in its four-yearly review of awards to align Sunday penalty rates in hospitality, entertainment, restaurants and cafes with those payable on Saturdays.
The Productivity Commission in its draft IR inquiry report, released this morning, has recommended the 100% Sunday penalty rates for cafes, hospitality, entertainment, restaurants and retailing be aligned with Saturday rates.
Maritime unions are taking the federal government to the High Court, alleging it is misusing visas reserved for visiting royals and dignitaries to "open the backdoor to cheap foreign labour" in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Labor has today accused Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd of favouritism towards his own workforce to get his agreement across the line.
The future of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal remains unclear, despite Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss stating last month that it would continue.
The High Court has granted special leave for the federal government, the CFMEU and the CEPU to challenge a full Federal Court judgment that effectively stops the FWO and FWBC from continuing their practice of providing "agreed" penalty ranges to courts.
Federal Labor has today launched a taskforce that will this month start seeking the views of the public and IR practitioners on the Abbott Government's IR policies.
CPSU members in 17 APS agencies are set to begin a campaign of rolling four-hour stoppages next month, as the union seeks to pressure the federal government to increase its sub-inflation pay offers.
The Abbott Government has quietly dropped re-establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission and creating the Registered Organisations Commission as "major priorities" in its 2015-16 Budget.
