Mining unions have applied to the FWC for a majority support determination to force Rio Tinto to the bargaining table with workers at its Paraburdoo iron ore operations, while an IR researcher says in a forthcoming book that Pilbara workers' ambitious demands at the height of union power more than four decades ago can provide lessons for unions today.
The Ai Group has hinted at a potential "consensus" in a FWC-initiated case with economy-wide implications to consider inserting WFH provisions in the clerks award, while expressing concern that it would be "unfair" to require submissions ahead of results of a survey on the issue, with the tribunal now persuaded to ditch the deadline and hold a conference.
In a significant breakthrough for a NTEU excessive workloads case, a FWC full bench has found a university could have breached its agreement by allocating tasks to academics they could not reasonably complete within full-time hours, but it is questioning what, if any, relief would be available.
The number of workers covered by agreements has risen by 36.5% over the past three years, according to the latest triennial FWC general manager's report, while applications to deal with bargaining disputes rose 73.5% over the same period.
The ASU has lodged a single interest multi-employer bargaining authorisation to force eight Melbourne metropolitan councils to negotiate for a deal covering 7000 local government workers, or up to 10,000 if petitions at a further three councils succeed.
A tribunal has rejected a bid by the NSW Department of Education to block SafeWork from cross-examining a witness and from relying on previously redacted evidence on the basis of public interest immunity.
The FWC has rebuffed an employer's bid to suppress the identities of employees cited in a manager's witness statement for an intractable bargaining case, after highlighting that they had not sought that their conversations or names be kept secret.
A tribunal has ordered a lawyer to pay more than $41,000 of the $371,000 in costs Legal Aid Queensland accrued in defending her "protracted" discrimination and victimisation claims, finding her legal knowledge and lack of supporting evidence justified an order against her.
Marles staffer settles bullying dispute; $70K fine for Qube; Next ECEC "batch" approved; and Public servant protections not reliant on uniforms: Inquiry.
Using suspension powers to compel a clinical nurse with a career spanning 60 years to work day shifts was unfair and unreasonable as it conflicted with her caring duties, while also being unintentionally "quite cruel", Queensland's IRC has found.
