Collective bargaining among full-time employees steadily increased as they moved away from reliance on awards earlier this decade, but Work Choices interrupted the trend, a new FWA analysis suggests.
New research conducted by FWA to inform its 2010 minimum pay ruling shows that about half of award-reliant employees are clustered around the C10 tradesperson's rate - currently $16.78 an hour or $637.60 a week - and that 70% of award-reliant employees are paid more than the C10 rate. Meanwhile, the minimum wage full bench has issued a statement clarifying the scope of this year's case.
An "understanding" between the CFMEU and AWU looms as the key to preventing demarcation flare-ups during the first tranche of work on the multi-billion dollar Gorgon LNG project, with head-contractor Thiess's proposed deals with the unions silent on how coverage issues will be dealt with on the site.
Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens today warned that unemployment was the price of excessive wage increases and noted that "a lot" of business people were expressing concern over union activity in the WA resources sector.
The National Retailers Association has obtained legal advice that a High Court challenge to the award modernisation process could be successful, while the ACTU has condemned the proposed action.
ANF seeks answers on take home pay orders; Full court dismisses appeal by employee refused a transfer; Employer can have lawyer to argue sacking a redundancy; and Meetings and claim for parity aren't enough, FWA tells union.
A construction worker must be returned to his job on the same building site he was unfairly dismissed from for swearing, Fair Work Australia has found, in a significant ruling on the tribunal's powers when reinstating employees.
A Sydney bar worker who developed a severe psychological condition after being subjected to what the NSW District Court found was sustained intimidation, bullying and harassment by her supervisor has been awarded more than $500,000 in damages.
Some occupations could score more points than others, while work experience, excellence in English and qualifications from high quality overseas universities would be better rewarded under a raft of changes to the skilled migration points test the Federal Government is considering.
The ABCC has launched its own Federal Court action against the CFMEU's WA branch and its assistant secretary Joe McDonald over strike action at the Pluto LNG project, while talks between unions and Woodside directed at resolving the dispute are beginning to bear fruit.
