Fair Work Australia has declined to wait for an employer-sponsored secret ballot before making a majority support determination, ruling that an employee petition met the Act's requirements.
The Federal Court's Justice Geoffrey Flick today described the decision to merge HSU entities to form HSU East as "silly", and outlined his views on a possible scheme of administration.
The number of general protections applications lodged with Fair Work Australia in a quarter has exceeded the 700 mark for the first time, while unfair dismissal claims have also continued to climb, according to the tribunal's latest data.
A new four-year agreement that locks-in individual pay-setting arrangements at BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam uranium mine ahead of a massive expansion of the facility is before FWA for approval today.
The FWO has received 2,878 discrimination complaints since it began operating in July 2009, but has commenced litigation over only four, leading to three enforceable undertakings, the agency told recent Senate Estimates hearings.
The Business Council in a new report on major projects released today is seeking that the Productivity Commission inquire into project costs, including what it says is a 30% labour productivity deficit on resource projects - compared to US benchmarks - that is showing signs of blowing out to 60%.
The Federal Court has this morning refused FWA Vice President Michael Lawler's request to "suppress" any evidence of a "malicious" or "defamatory" nature raised in the Federal Court's hearing into rival bids to hand the HSU's East branch to an administrator.
Flight attendants employed by Tiger Airways will receive 3% annual pay rises plus a sign-on bonus to compensate for the lack of any increase in the pre-agreement period, under the first cabin crew deal for the low-cost airline.
