Full steam ahead for HSU NSW and Vic No. 3 branch elections; MUA fined for WA industrial action; Setka action against Abbott begins; and Federal government simplifies specialist temporary work visas.
The first of the federal government's bills to flow from the Fair Work Act review panel report is through the Lower House and has been referred to a senate committee inquiry, but with a report-back date that still allows time for it to be passed before parliament rises for the year.
Bakers Delight employees are being offered seemingly generous upfront wage rises in enterprise agreements currently before Fair Work Australia for approval, but unions are concerned that the increases will be undermined by an effective freezing of pay and conditions for the remainder of the four-year deals.
Opposition backbencher Jamie Briggs has questioned Fair Work Australia President Justice Iain Ross's impartiality and claimed the federal government's motive in seeking to fast-track its proposed Fair Work Act amendments was to appoint Maurice Blackburn's Josh Bornstein and former ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence to the new vice presidents positions the bill would create, ahead of a possible change of government next year.
New research released by the Australian Human Rights Commission shows that 29% of women experience a workplace backlash after complaining about sexual harassment, up from 16% in 2003.
Lack of witness statement not fatal to unfair dismissal claim; Court allows combination of adverse action claims; and FWA limits scope of apprentices review.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten has today introduced the government's first tranche legislative response to the Fair Work Act Review Panel's report, including amendments to change the national IR tribunal's name to "Fair Work Commission" and provide its President, Justice Iain Ross, with sweeping new powers to manage its members.
Fair Work Australia has found that a Melbourne construction worker was not genuinely redundant when a national company terminated his employment because he could have filled a vacancy in Queensland.
