The Qantas and Cochlear disputes demonstrate the need to re-examine the triggers for arbitration of damaging and intractable disputes, according to leading labour law academics.
Qantas was forced into locking out its workforce and grounding the airline because of the Fair Work Act's removal of prohibited content provisions, it says in its submission to the review of the Fair Work Act. Meanwhile, the BCA is seeking restrictions on bargaining content to increase employers' operational flexibility.
The ACTU is seeking to remove "matters pertaining" restrictions on bargaining content and extend time for lodging unfair dismissal claims from 14 days to 60 days, in its submission to the review of the Fair Work Act.
The ASU and Queensland betting agency TattsBet have been granted a renewed anti-discrimination exemption that allows the agency to offer higher redundancy pay to older workers.
Workplaces should be able to vote for internal IR regulation free from union and FWA "interference"; IFAs should operate more like AWAs; and high-income earners should have the ability to opt out of collective bargaining, according to the AMMA.
ACCI wants the Fair Work Act changed to make it unlawful for matters relating to managerial prerogative to be included in agreements or to be the basis of protected industrial action, according to its chief executive, Peter Anderson.
Federal Government appointments to FWA and to the panel reviewing the Fair Work Act dominated Opposition questioning of DEEWR during this week's Senate Estimates hearings.
Domino’s agrees to audit stores after underpayment complaints to FWO; Victorian company first to be banned under 457 visa program; Victorian nurses dispute drags on; more than 100 days since conciliation began; Submissions due by end of February for inquiry into Bandt "right to request" bill; Comments invited on planned ATO disclosure to super funds; Clarification of report on Law Reform Commission paper; and CFMEU fails to win FWA approval for protected action ballot.
Schweppes Australia's Tullamarine bottling plant has returned to production after locked out workers returned to work yesterday, while talks are now underway before Fair Work Australia.
Qantas has announced 500 job cuts, with more to come following a 60-day review of its heavy maintenance operations that will lead to closure of at least one and possibly two of its three Australian facilities.
