The Federal Court has today refused a rail union bid to stop the retrenchment and redeployment of employees of Melbourne public transport operator Metro Trains, after the company gave an undertaking it wouldn't proceed while the RTBU seeks an expedited dispute hearing in the FWC.
The Attorney-General's Department has moved to speedily appoint a new general manager to the FWC, while signalling that a key part of the role is to oversee "significant transformation" of the tribunal's "digital capabilities".
The FWC has cleared the way for Bluescope to outsource the cleaning role of skilled operators at its Port Kembla bulk berth department, finding it would be unfair to stop it achieving financial benefits of improved flexibility even though it will cost eight permanent positions.
A tribunal in awarding a former Sydney Water worker $200,000 damages has factored in a "weasel worded" apology issued by the consultancy responsible for using her image in a "Feel great - lubricate!" safety campaign.
The CFMMEU's mining and energy division has asked the FWC to expedite the hearing of its demerger application because of the union's civil war, in correspondence revealing its substantial assets and its proposed new name, while the Commission has today timetabled a case dealing with threshold matters.
The FWC has upheld the sacking of an aged care receptionist who refused a flu vaccination on the basis of a previous allergic reaction, finding her employer "objectively prudent" in refusing to let her work despite her doctor's contraindication form.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised to act on a report that found the protections for State ministerial staff against bullying and harassment are "unclear, ineffective and inadequate".
An academic challenging his sacking for breaching his university's code of conduct when he denounced its climate change research will tell the High Court intellectual freedom provisions give him an overriding right to criticise his employer.
The FWC has upheld the dismissal of a 52-year-old Victorian secondary teacher who "crossed the line" when he hugged and touched boys, despite also finding his employer did not follow the disciplinary procedures set out in its enterprise agreement.
