Trend growth in pay rates excluding bonuses in the private sector has eased to 3.1% a year - the lowest rise in more than nine years, according to the ABS.
In a ruling that underlines the good faith obligations bargaining representatives owe each other, Fair Work Australia has dismissed the meat union's bid for a scope order at Woolworths because it failed to notify the shop union of its concerns about the bargaining process, denied it a chance to respond and failed to bargain in good faith with the rival union.
The MUA has rejected an offer by the offshore oil and gas vessel operator where its members are currently engaged in a two-day strike to have Fair Work Australia arbitrate an outcome to the bargaining dispute.
The Federal Government's State referrals legislation faces an uncertain passage after the Coalition this evening said it would vote against it in the House of Representatives and flagged it would move amendments in the Senate to address key concerns.
Fair Work Australia has for the first time found that a petition of employees provides sufficient evidence to justify it making a majority support determination.
A Senate inquiry's government majority has rejected concerns raised by AiG about the state IR referrals legislation and recommended it be passed without delay, while Coalition senators have backed the bill's intent, but say it gives the states an "inherently dangerous" power to control the Fair Work Act's evolution. Meanwhile, the Government has released the multilateral intergovernmental agreement it has made with the states.
The AIRC has abolished modern award clauses that would have left hundreds of thousands of clerks and banking, finance and insurance workers without award coverage on key entitlements including rest breaks and overtime.
