Two HSU branches in Victoria are merging to form a "stronger union", but members of one are complaining that it is being undemocratically rushed through without consultation.
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.
Psychiatrist staff specialists in NSW public hospitals have won a temporary 10% "stop-gap" attraction and retention allowance, after a State IRC full bench accepted they had established a special case to address an "acute shortage", partly a result of "comparatively low pay", that is driving a reduction in the quality of mental health care.
Commissioner Stuart Wood KC, addressing today's initial hearing for his inquiry into the CFMEU in Queeensland, expressed his gratitude for the "unsolicited written commitment" from union administrator Mark Irving KC to cooperate with the probe.
The ETU's WA branch is pushing to bargain for a separate agreement for continuing electrical, instrumentation or plumbing workers at the massive Pluto 2 LNG expansion, to uncouple from employees who will be demobilised as the construction phase ends, and is urging workers to vote down a pay offer that "does not pass the pub test".
The inquiry into the CFMEU construction division's Queensland branch is set to begin its public proceedings next week in Brisbane with an opening statement from Commissioner Stuart Wood KC and an address from senior counsel assisting, Liam Kelly KC.
A MEU prompt has spurred a host employer subject to same-job, same-pay orders to fulfil its statutory obligation to tell the FWC about a recently-engaged labour-supplier.
A pilots' union will weigh into a tussle over the Flying Kangaroo's alleged ditching of an A380 captain's exclusive parking arrangements near Sydney Airport, after the FWC rejected the airline's contention it cannot intervene as a "third party" in a member's agreement dispute.
The FWC has refused a bid for a three-month suspension of industrial action at a major aluminium smelter, finding that it would hinder bargaining, and that the AWU had already made significant concessions to ensure that the plant would remain operational.
The FSU is threatening to lodge a dispute with the FWC to challenge the ANZ's surprise announcement that it intends to axe of thousands of workers, giving the bank by the close of business to clarify its response to questions over alleged consultation failures.
