Offer of alternative employment not acceptable, says FWA; Pluto crane drivers vote up strike action; and Unions NSW call for additional public holiday.
Sole employee can't "genuinely agree" to deal; Parties urged to do more in modernisation case; New executive officer for VIPA; ILO and Australia forge development partnership; and Workplace Express events page updated
In a critique of the Federal Government's key IR changes, Qantas's executive IR manager says that the good faith bargaining laws will "even up the playing field a little" by forcing the airlines' competitors to bargain collectively, but noted that the new provisions didn't cover the "galling" industrial tactic of damaging a brand. Sue Bussell also maintains that unions' opposition to individual flexibility provisions could affect their long-term relevance, and that FWA got award modernisation right for the industry.
Unions seeking an equal remuneration order for SACS workers today proposed Fair Work Australia adopt a six-month timetable for dealing with the matter, including a request that a full bench sit and conduct "views" around the country.
The resources sector fears an outbreak of entry-related bargaining claims unless Fair Work Australia's full bench quashes a decision allowing unions and employers to circumvent the Fair Work Act's right of entry protocols.
In an important case on restructuring, Xstrata subsidiary Ulan Coal Mines has today told a full bench of FWA that there was "indisputable" evidence it had a labour surplus at its NSW underground operation when it dismissed 10 mineworkers last year, and that an earlier finding that the redundancies weren't genuine was wrong.
Virgin Blue subsidiary V Australia is using the IFA provision in the cabin crew modern award to roster flight attendants for longer than the 18-hour limit on extended shifts, in a move the FAAA is considering prosecuting as a potential award breach.
Employers, unions and the Federal Government today each urged a Fair Work Australia full bench to overturn a single member's decision that significantly limits the scope for individual flexibility arrangements, while the full bench cautioned employers against putting deals to a vote and then later challenging them.
