Just one in every 45 employees had their pay and conditions determined by AWAs or ITEAs in August last year, according to new ABS statistics that, according to Professor David Peetz, prove that claims about AWA density before the 2007 federal election were "wildly exaggerated".
The Rudd Government has retained the BCII Act's six months jail penalty for individuals who refuse to cooperate with investigations by its new construction industry watchdog but has given courts the option of imposing a fine instead, while Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard will direct the ABCC to implement safeguards against the misuse of its coercive powers ahead of her new construction-specific IR laws taking effect next year.
Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has today introduced her legislation to amend the BCII Act and replace the ABCC with Labor's Building Inspectorate. She announced she will direct ABC Commissioner John Lloyd to temper the way he uses his coercive powers and to report to her next month on the geographical alignment of the resources of the ABCC/Building Inspectorate and the industry's trouble spots.
Bargaining representatives will be able to apply to Fair Work Australia for orders to ensure protected action authorisations survive the July 1 cut-off under new Government amendments to the Fair Work transitional bill, while the Opposition and Greens will also pursue changes to the legislation.
The ACTU has vowed to continue to fight to end the use of coercive powers in the construction industry, despite Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard today securing Caucus support for her amending legislation that retains those powers, though with some safeguards.
Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has today won Caucus endorsement for her construction-specific IR legislation, and will tomorrow introduce into parliament a bill that retains coercive powers in the sector, though with the ability for them to be "turned off" on projects with good IR records.
The CFMEU's mining and energy division has launched innovative legal proceedings in the Federal Court in a bid to undo Rio Tinto's non-union industrial strategy in the Pilbara.
Virgin Blue has failed to win support from its cabin crew for a new agreement negotiated with employees that would have increased rostered hours, reconfigured pay scales and cut wages for new starters.
Queensland's peak employer body, CCIQ, has retrenched its most senior IR and HR advisors, less than a month before its members have to grapple with the challenges of the Fair Work Act.
Gillard confirms construction IR bill to be introduced this week; ANZ commits to collective bargaining; Clean start for pay celebrated on International Cleaners Day; and Bilateral agreement between Victoria and Commonwealth available
