In a significant judgment on the level of proof required to establish an unlawful boycott, a High Court majority has upheld a finding that the CFMEU's construction and general division did not collude with major building company J Hutchinson to freeze out a non-union waterproofing subcontractor.
The FWO has launched a court case seeking penalties against former CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch secretary John Setka and the union for allegedly attempting to coerce the AFL into sacking its head of umpiring, former ABCC commissioner Steve McBurney.
The Federal Court has rejected embattled HSU No 1 Victorian branch secretary Diana Asmar's bid to stay FWC general manager Murray Furlong's prosecution of her for alleged "cashbacks", after she failed to establish a criminal trial is "on the cards".
Qantas will pay $120 million into a fund to compensate about 1800 former ground handling workers for economic and non-economic loss they suffered as a result of the airline's unlawful outsourcing their jobs during the pandemic, though it is not yet clear how much each individual might receive or how this is to be determined.
The FWO has published a guide to the newly-declared voluntary code for small businesses - said to be a blueprint for employers of all sizes - to protect themselves from criminal liability under Closing Loopholes wage theft provisions from January 1.
The FWO has further tightened the screws on franchisors after the Federal Court agreed that it fell to Bakers Delight to disprove that it is liable for half of a liquidated franchisee's alleged underpayments of more than $1.2 million.
BHP and Rio Tinto are facing class actions accusing them of failing to protect women who worked for them and their contractors against sexual assault, discrimination and harassment over the past 20 years.
The FWC has renewed an MUA organiser's entry permit, finding his arrest at a rally opposing the war in Gaza relevant, but not enough to prevent him passing the fit and proper person test, and a "removed" CFMEU organiser has won a new permit after the old one's automatic cancellation.
Under-fire HSU branch leader Diana Asmar has been ordered not to use union funds to cover the costs of defending FWC allegations that she received "cashbacks" and unwarranted reimbursements, while also being directed to provide undertakings not to initiate any further reprisals against three officials who maintain that the branch no longer operates effectively.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking a labour hire company to court for unlawfully deducting $500 fines from migrant workers' pay when they breached its drug and alcohol policy.
