Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten this morning praised outgoing Fair Work Australia President, Justice Geoffrey Giudice, for his "wise detachment" and proving the naysayers wrong by succeeding in modernising awards, at a farewell ceremonial sitting in Melbourne.
The Federal Government has appointed former AIRC Vice President Iain Ross as the new head of Fair Work Australia, replacing Justice Geoffrey Giudice, who retires on February 29.
Unions that defy tribunal dispute orders will face significantly higher penalties, employees will be able to choose which union they join and it will be easier to sack excess public servants, under IR changes announced yesterday by the NSW Government.
Banks are entitled to hold their employees to the "highest standard of honesty and integrity", Fair Work Australia has found in upholding Westpac's dismissal of a customer service employee who tendered a falsified medical certificate.
The protracted and costly bargaining dispute at BHPB's Bowen Basin coal mines has escalated again, with unions notifying the company yesterday - as 3,500 workers returned from a seven-day strike - of 10 days of stoppages at two of the seven mines from Saturday.
Unions should no longer be default bargaining agents under a revised Fair Work Act, stevedoring company POAGS has argued in its submission to the review of the legislation, while the MUA says FWA is processing applications to halt unprotected industrial action with "unseemly haste".
A sacked employee who rejected a $15,000 offer to settle his adverse action claim has had costs awarded against him, with the Federal Magistrates Court finding it was unreasonable of him not to accept the money.
Private sector rates of pay up 3.7% annually, 0.9% in quarter; Bandt says bill will help resolve bargaining disputes; TWU fails to overturn order to pay Qantas $700,000-plus; Full court reserves decision in JJ Richards; FWA issues directions for Victorian public sector workplace determination; and Rio Tinto forging ahead with automation plans.
The AiG has called for a return to "voluntary bargaining"; the introduction of "individual" enterprise agreements; the revival of employer greenfields deals; a national long service leave standard; doctor's certificates for absent employees; and significant changes to transfer of business and general protections laws.
