New AWU national secretary Scott McDine has pledged to focus on rank-and-file members, while dealing with challenges in key industries such as steel and aluminium.
Employment Minister Eric Abetz has refused to respond directly to suggestions from a member of the Abbott ministry that the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal will be axed.
The Abbott Government has given the WA Government and third parties the power to apply to the Fair Work Commission to suspend or terminate industrial action that is threatening the economy or endangering health and safety.
Rio Tinto has struck a new four-year enterprise agreement with the CFMEU that makes clear it will continue to employ substantial numbers of drivers for iron ore hauling despite the phased introduction of "autonomous" trains.
Employees of national retailer Spotlight will return to award conditions today, after enterprise bargaining negotiations with the SDA failed and the union convinced the Fair Work Commission to terminate the company's first-ever collective agreement.
The Heydon Royal Commission will turn its sights on the CFMEU next week, moving to Melbourne for three days starting on Monday, followed by one day in Sydney on Friday.
United Voice Victoria has signed a second-round Clean Start agreement with the Glad Group and is also negotiating new deals with Consolidated Property Services and other Victorian cleaning industry employers.
Former South Australian SDA secretary and factional powerbroker Don Farrell has defended both ex-union officials' numbers in Labor's parliamentary ranks and his role in the coup against Kevin Rudd in his final speech to the Senate after losing his seat in last year's federal election.
The FWC has refused to approve a new agreement for a major employer that gave employees access to the draft deal and details about the approval ballot a day later than required.
An employee found guilty of contempt after disobeying court orders that she not contact former workmates will avoid a $10,000 penalty if she refrains from making further contact for two years.
