Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has today criticised CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch leader John Setka for reportedly comparing the Coalition's "attack" on the union and its members to that of Hitler's Germany, after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Labor leader to "publicly disown" the union secretary.
Two weeks into the federal election campaign, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the re-introduction of statutory individual agreements and the removal of all content except wage rates from modern awards.
A Turnbull Coalition Government, if returned at the July 2 election, will amend the Fair Work Act to make franchisors and parent entities responsible for their franchisees' and subsidiaries' exploitation of vulnerable workers, while increasing penalties tenfold for employers that underpay such workers and fail to keep proper records.
Reducing penalty rates, increasing rostering flexibility and boosting the ability of employers to make agreements directly with employees are at the top of employer groups' IR wishlists for the July 2 federal election.
Department of Defence civilian employees have again rejected a proposed enterprise agreement, with almost 55% voting down an offer that included a 6% pay rise over three years.
FWC's interest-based dispute resolution approach reaches new stage; Shorten Government would intervene in penalties case; Visa cases now the lion's share of FWO prosecutions; Budget Estimates hearings brought forward; Labor bid to disallow regulation postponed to Wednesday; and Slaters wins new finance deal.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is calling for tougher laws to force franchises to take responsibility for their franchisees' employment practices, as it pursues three underpayment claims totalling $1 million via the Fels 7-Eleven Wage Fairness Panel, which has now secured payouts of $11 million.
The NTEU has called on the UniSuper industry superannuation fund's chief executive officer, to withdraw his public statement opposing Labor's planned $53M royal commission into the finance sector.
The Turnbull Government will take its response to the Productivity Commission inquiry into overhauling the IR system to the federal election on July 2.
