Underpayments spike as FWO calls for end to "adversarialism"; FWC launches sexual harassment tool; Reinstatement for "phat arse" worker; SCHADS pay rises deferred; and ANMF wins scope orders for aged care nurses.
The FWC has temporarily increased the vehicle-related allowances in the SCHADS and aged care awards to compensate workers for the fuel price surge from the Middle East conflict, but has declined to make the change in 39 other awards.
A FWC full bench has refused to delay the phasing-in of junior rates changes, while rejecting SDA arguments that a six-month qualifying period before 18 to 20-year-old retail, fast food and pharmacy workers receive full adult pay should be based on their time under an award rather than length of service with an individual employer.
The FWC will insert a working from home term in the clerical award that provides for employees to request WFH arrangements, but it has found no basis for a "major regulatory intervention" to compel employers to act.
The FWC is seeking feedback on a provisional view that it should correct a "clearly nonsensical" proposition in the Hydrocarbons Award that overpayments can only be deducted from workers' wages if they are stood down due to a storm or cyclone.
The ASU will today seek a 35% work value pay rise for 300,000 SCHADS award-covered community and disability workers, following a two-year pause after the FWC refused to integrate it within the tribunal's broader gender-based undervaluation case.
Most disability, home care, social and community services workers will from October next year be covered by a "vastly different" award providing pay rises of up to 27%, following yesterday's decision by a FWC expert panel considering gender undervaluation in highly-feminised sectors.
The FWC's annual wage review expert panel has today granted a below-inflation 4.75% rise in all award rates, after "regrettably" concluding it would not be "practicable or responsible" to order a larger increase in the current "uncertain" economic conditions.
Extra time for Wood inquiry into CFMEU; Gender undervaluation boost now in October; Migrant Workers Centre launched in NSW; and FWC Bulletin final edition.
