RAFFWU will challenge the rejection of a PABO bid targeting Coles supermarkets and Liquorland outlets after the FWC found it failed to genuinely bargain on behalf of salaried managers it wants to include in a multi-employer deal.
The FAAA is accusing Virgin chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka of pitting staff against cabin crew as she and founder Richard Branson warn of dire consequences if the threat of industrial action continues over the holidays, with the FWC overseeing "urgent talks" this week.
A FWC presidential member has taken a harder line on extending notice periods for protected action, rejecting Virgin Australia's bid to increase warnings of strikes and bans from three to seven days, because it would result in diminished worker bargaining power.
Chevron is accusing unions of ignoring a FWC recommendation to halt industrial action set to begin on Thursday while negotiations continue today before Commissioner Bernie Riordan to iron out differences that emerged after the parties reached a settlement on September 22.
A pre-Christmas waterfront battle between the MUA and container terminal operator DP World kicks off today with a 48-hour strike in Fremantle, which started at 6am WA time, to be followed by a 44-hour stoppage in Melbourne, from noon on Sunday.
A union involved in more than 20% of the FWC's s448A compulsory conciliation conferences since they started in June says they come with a significant "risk versus reward overlay" that threatens to derail protected action and an "urgent fix" is required.
The FWC's national practice leader for bargaining says "almost all" members are issuing directions in addition to attendance orders ahead of compulsory post-PABO conciliations and appear to be regularly making recommendations during the conferences.
Failing to alert an employer to strike plans does not amount to a failure to genuinely try to reach an agreement, the FWC has ruled in rejecting a company's bid to block a protected action ballot.
The Offshore Alliance and the ETU say they will hit Woodside's North West Shelf gas platforms with industrial action as early as Saturday if a bargaining meeting this week disappoints workers, as the threat of broader strikes loom.
