The underpayment of migrant workers significantly worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a large Unions NSW audit revealing 88% of a sample of foreign language job ads in the state offered below award wages.
FWC President Iain Ross has agreed to consider IR Minister Christian Porter's request that he insert loaded rates into awards for "distressed" industries and will convene initial conferences next week.
In a Federal Court adverse action case seeking to stop Qantas sacking 2000 ground-handling workers and outsourcing their duties, the TWU claims the airline shunned its in-house bid to avoid agreement conditions and diminish the union's influence.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers will today file a Federal Court test case for the TWU that alleges the Qantas decision to contract-out ground-handling duties performed by 2000 workers amounted to unlawful adverse action.
IR Minister Christian Porter has flagged that the IR omnibus legislation to be introduced tomorrow will seek to further extend the workplace flexibilities rolled out as part of the JobKeeper wage subsidy beyond the current sunset of late March.
Virgin Australia will unilaterally seek support from its flight crew for a new enterprise deal, after failing to secure backing from its two pilot unions, while agreements for the remainder of the workforce have received the blessing of unions as the best they could achieve to get the relaunched airline back aloft.
A leading international IR academic has called for optimism and political courage to forge a new post-pandemic social contract designed to build more productive and resilient economies while rebuilding worker trust and making workplaces more inclusive.
The FWC has found the MUA should have followed the NSW chief medical officer's advice to return to the docks after OHS representatives issued a "cease work" order in response to wharfies contracting COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic.
The ANMF has welcomed a Victorian Government plan for an Australian-first scheme to introduce nurse/carer to resident ratios in private sector aged care, calling for it to be adopted in other states and territories.
