The High Court has confirmed that the NSW Industrial Relations Commission lacks jurisdiction to hear unfair dismissal claims brought by probationary police officers.
The judicial and administrative heads of the Fair Work Commission have told a Senate estimates committee hearing today that they have no spare resources to implement the new bullying jurisdiction announced yesterday by Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten.
Unfair dismissal applications surged to their highest level yet under the Fair Work Act in the December quarter last year, but only 1% of the total translated into a finding that that the dismissal was unfair.
In a decision with implications for the future application of the Victorian Government's public sector wages policy, a Fair Work Commission full bench has awarded Parks Victoria workers a 13.5% wage increase in a three-year workplace determination, with 4.5% backdated to October 1 last year.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has today committed to introducing new laws that will enable bullying victims to seek rapid redress through the Fair Work Commission.
A Federal Court judge has expressed serious concerns about evidence given by IR consultant Grace Collier in support of an interlocutory injunction application by the Fair Work Building Inspectorate this morning.
In FWC's first ruling to be accompanied by a summary to increase understanding of its decision-making, the tribunal has ordered the reinstatement of a Victorian anaesthetist who was summarily dismissed over alleged serious misconduct.
IR policy is set to play a prominent role in the lead-up to the September 14 federal election, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday flagging a second tranche of Fair Work amendments, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Independent Bob Katter both introducing private member's bills today.
The Fair Work Commission has refused to interfere with a Kraft Foods directive that its food handlers remove their wedding rings to minimise the risk of contamination, finding that it did not amount to an extra claim under its enterprise agreement.
