"We woke up one day and the orders were gone" - that was the impetus for a steel plan the AWU has developed with major producers to get the sector through the global financial crisis that has as its focus Federal Government infrastructure spending and stronger anti-dumping measures.
Unions have arrested the slide in membership, with numbers growing by 3% to 1,752,900 last year, while the proportion of the workforce in unions remained steady at 18.9% - the first time it hasn't fallen in 17 years, according to the ABS. But the news for unions isn't all good - despite attracting 20,000 new recruits, private sector density declined from 13.7% to 13.6%, after it failed to keep pace with rapid employment growth.
John Holland and key construction unions have agreed to take part in mediation in a bid to resolve the Westgate Bridge dispute; and Qantas unions will meet with management on Monday to discuss the airline's job shedding plans.
Organiser fined $11,000 over stop-work linked to Washington charge; Police intervene at Westgate picket; Virgin Pilot's union makes second lift-off attempt; Company directors question executives' pay packets; and Deadline for FWA minimum wage panel applications.
The AMMA and CFMEU (construction and general division) have both strongly criticised the transitional IR legislation's representation order provisions, with the employer group arguing they don't make clear that applications for orders can be made before disputes arise, while the union maintaining they are too broad and will generate disagreement and litigation.
A state administrative tribunal has rejected a bipolar sufferer's claim that she suffered direct discrimination at work, despite evidence the employer wanted her "off the books" to limit its worker's compensation liability.
The AiG is warning that the transitional fair work legislation enables the appointment of dedicated industrial judges to the Fair Work Division of the Federal Court, condemning it as a "retrograde" step that revives the regime under the former federal IR Court, which was much maligned by employers.
DEEWR says the five-year phase-in period for modern awards will address employer concerns about increased costs and has rejected claims the process unfairly favours employees.
