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.
Queensland's Crisafulli Government will delay the implementation of "rushed" Anti-Discrimination law changes passed by the Miles Government last year, to conduct further consultation, in a move that Queenland Council of Unions secretary Jacqueline King described as "an outrageous betrayal of Queensland workers".
Labor-aligned think tank the McKell Institute has called for the Albanese Government to commit to establishing a national labour hire licensing scheme by the end of the year, in a new report commissioned by unions and Woolworths with the aim of protecting horticultural workers.
A tribunal has ordered the reinstatement of a council worker found to have had a "brain snap" when he referred to his manager in a text as a "rude c--t" he felt like punching.
In its first sitting week, Queensland's Crisafulli Government has "rammed through" legislation to reduce health and safety permit holders' entry rights, to address what it says is the CFMEU's "weaponisation of workplace health and safety", and introduced legislation to re-establish the State productivity commission.
QCU general secretary Jacqueline King has warned ahead of the State election on Saturday that public sector pay rises of 2.5% will not be enough to avoid industrial action, regardless of who is in power, while unions are also continuing their push for a significant boost to paid parental leave entitlements.
Queensland's Miles Government has secured the passage of legislation to introduce a broad positive duty to eliminate not only sexual harassment and harassment on the basis of s-x, but discrimination and "other objectionable conduct" as far as possible.
A leading IR law academic says he would not be surprised if the Albanese Government proposes a Fair Work court to operate alongside the FWC if it is returned at the next federal election, while SA Employment Tribunal President Stephen Dolphin recommends looking to the "exceptional" model in his State.
Ahead of the October 26 State election, Queensland unions are set to launch a campaign today to lift the current public sector parental leave entitlement of 15 weeks to 18 weeks, plus an extra eight weeks for workers with five years service.
Australia can learn from the "disappointing" under-utilisation of Spain's groundbreaking menstrual leave entitlement during its first year, due to fear of discrimination at work and the limitations of its model, according to an employment lawyer.
