The Fair Work Commission will allow Patrick Stevedores to proceed with job cuts at the Port of Melbourne, after rejecting an MUA bid for an interim restraining order because the balance of convenience lay with the employer.
The Federal Court has overturned a ruling by the Federal Circuit Court that paint manufacturer Wattyl did not breach its enterprise agreement when it directed employees to take annual leave during a production scale-down in 2012.
The Coalition has warned public servants there will be "minimal capacity for wage increases" in bargaining to replace 114 enterprise agreements covering 165,000 employees that are due to expire on June 30.
ACTU secretary Dave Oliver will lead a union delegation to Canberra tomorrow to step up political lobbying over the Abbott government's legislation to change the Qantas Sale Act.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says the airline management will push ahead with cutting 5,000 jobs even if the Federal Parliament supports legislation to lift foreign ownership restrictions on the national carrier.
The ACTU and aviation unions have sought details on the 5000 jobs Qantas is planning to cut, its outsourcing plans, and its proposed wage freeze ahead of a meeting with management in Sydney today.
