The FWC is running a trial until the end of the year of holding conferences and hearings on Thursday nights and Saturdays, with priority to be given to matters involving small businesses.
Communication unions have accused Telstra of "a race to the bottom" after confirmation today that the telco will cut at least 1400 jobs – almost 5% of its Australian workforce – over the next six months.
Supporting the ABCC, improving business productivity and attracting more women into the building industry are among the top priorities for new Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn, who will take over the top job from Wilhelm Harnisch later this month.
The Fair Work Commission has ordered BlueScope Steel to consult with a group of maintenance workers at its Port Kembla steelworks, after finding it failed to comply with the terms of a landmark 2015 enterprise agreement that reduced wages and reformed work practices to keep the plant open.
The CFMEU expects to lodge an appeal early next week against yesterday's FWC decision to terminate the agreement for AGL Loy Yang's power station and coal mine because of the "intractable" bargaining dispute between the parties.
The TWU is considering its options after the FWC refused to grant permanent employees preference to work additional hours ahead of labour hire employees at Sydney's international airport.
