The FWC has late today declined to expedite Transgrid's application for an intractable bargaining application against the ETU, after the power company last week won a two-month suspension of the union's protected action, but lost its bid to block an order for production of documents.
The Coalition will support passage of the Albanese Government's legislation clearing the way to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU's troubled construction division branches.
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.
A FWC full bench has chosen to include in an intractable bargaining workplace determination a delegates' rights provision that closely reflects the model award term, rather than the more extensive clause sought by the TWU.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt is holding parallel negotiations with the Greens and the Opposition in a bid to muster support to pass legislation clearing the way to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU's construction division.
The HSU has removed Victorian No. 1 branch secretary Diana Asmar from its national executive until the FWC concludes an investigation into her conduct, but says she is refusing to stand aside from her branch leadership role.
A notable difference between the federal legislation putting the CFMEU's construction division into administration and the FWC general manager's court application is that the former takes control of all state and territory branches, according to labour law academic Anthony Forsyth.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has this morning introduced legislation empowering him to put the CFMEU's construction and general division and its branches in the hands of an administrator.
An IR legal expert predicts the Federal Court case seeking to put the CFMEU construction division's national office and four branches into administration will not be required if federal legislation to be introduced this week mirrors a NSW bill.
