The Heydon Royal Commission today continued to probe the CFMEU's dealings with companies associated with labour hire operator George Alex, with organiser Darren Greenfield denying he received weekly secret cash payments, including from toilets.
The FWC has accepted the legitimacy of a Baiada policy that bans NUW officials, when exercising their entry rights to hold discussions with employees, from carrying mobiles and tablets that are capable of taking photos or video on its sites, but has re-listed the matter to consider "alternative solutions".
The FWO says that its next step after releasing its investigation report into substandard employment practices at three Baiada Group sites is to determine whether it can pursue the poultry processor for accessorial liability, sham contracting arrangements and knowingly providing false and misleading records.
The FWC has reinstated a Toll employee who made racist comments and has recommended the company seek to reverse its "hostile working environment" by participating in the Commission's developing better workplaces program.
Victorian CFMEU leader John Setka has this morning failed in his bid to win special leave from the High Court to challenge an appeal court ruling on a defamation claim against Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Sky News.
The High Court has granted special leave for the federal government, the CFMEU and the CEPU to challenge a full Federal Court judgment that effectively stops the FWO and FWBC from continuing their practice of providing "agreed" penalty ranges to courts.
CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch secretary Brian Parker today continued to deny having a personal relationship with Sydney identity George Alex, despite almost 20 telephone recordings that suggest the contrary.
In rare public comments by a member of the Fair Work Commission, Vice-President Michael Lawler has rejected allegations or imputations of wrongdoing against him as "demonstrably false and malicious".
