Fair Work Australia's first release of quarterly performance data reveals the number of general protections claims are on track to exceed those in 2009-10, while applications for protected action ballots are trending downwards.
Striking employees on a Perth building site have returned to work after a senior ABCC official pledged to investigate their concerns about sham contracting, in an early demonstration of the watchdog's new direction under Commissioner Leigh Johns.
In a significant adverse action decision that strengthens protections for employees involved in union activity, a Federal Court full court majority has found that an employer breached Labor's new workplace rights provisions when it disciplined an AEU delegate over an email - which it regarded as damaging to its reputation - he sent union members at the workplace.
FWA has criticised as "repugnant" the behaviour of an employer who kept its options open on whether to redeploy or make redundant a long serving employee, but has found it acted within the terms of its enterprise agreement.
Patrick/MUA talks continue despite changes at the top; Moody's warns of wage breakout risk; Court overturns "one man roster" ruling; and SA rail workers vote down pay offer
The Federal Court has effectively halved penalties totalling $49,550 against the CFMEU (construction & general division) and $12,000 against a delegate after setting aside one of two findings that they'd breached freedom of association laws.
Greater weight should now be given to how parties characterise an employment or independent contractor relationship, due to the deregulation of the labour market and the more flexible working environment that has emerged, a federal magistrate has found.
Fair Work Australia has upheld Macmahon Contractors' dismissal of a leading hand for breaching its zero alcohol limit twice in a year, despite the company's failure to follow a testing procedure "to the letter".
Former SDA official becomes SA's IR Minister; Independents urged to oppose Coalition PPL changes; NZ unions slam "miserly" minimum wage rise; and FWA varies award to cover student union employees
NAB employees have voted up a deal that provides guaranteed pay rises even if they fail to meet performance expectations, putting them ahead of their counterparts at the other three of the "big four" banks.
