Resources employer peak body AREEA has sought to "clarify" comments made about two companies involved in the FWC's review of protected action ballot agents, after one threatened to sue and the other took "umbrage".
The prospect of the first lawful strikes in more than 25 years at BHP's Iron Ore mines has moved closer, after ETU members on a crucial Pilbara power network voted up a protected action ballot.
BHP says it has contingency plans in place to ensure continuity of power supply to its Pilbara mines and ports, as 60 workers who operate its remote electricity grid threaten what it says is its WA iron ore operation's first protected action this century.
An emergency care flight service has withdrawn objections to an ANMF protected action ballot of nurses and midwives, and the FWC has found no reason to block it, after the union inserted a caveat to protect patient safety.
The FWC has announced a first-of-its-kind review of protected action ballot agents approved under Secure Jobs legislation, revealing that one has captured more than a third of the market.
The TWU is threatening strikes in the cash-in-transit industry in three states - with 99% of Victorian Armaguard workers already voting in favour - arguing its hand has been forced by a lack of progress in pay talks, eight months after the union's novel bid to rope-in the industry's major customers to secure pay rises.
Grave diggers and funeral workers are set to vote on strikes and cremation bans after the FWC rejected claims that no amount of notice will avert "significant consequences", while also backing the AWU's objection to the employer's proposed survey of its workforce to gauge its views.
The QNMU says the Crisafulli Liberal Government has reneged on a commitment to maintain "nation-leading" wages and conditions for the State's nurses and midwives, with an offer that will leave two-thirds of them worse off in three years and hand the competitive edge to Victoria.
In a decision tackling an overlooked need to issue protected action ballot orders reflecting a shift to multi-employer bargaining at Sydney Trains and NSW Trains, the FWC has chastised the employers for seeking an additional technical step serving "no purpose" other than to bring about a delay.
Rail unions are urgently seeking renewed authorisation for festive season protected action at Sydney Trains and NSW Trains, after the Federal Court last night acceded to the employers' bid to temporarily declare unlawful bans to take effect this morning.
