Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard has accused the Opposition of "playing politics" after it helped to pass Senate amendments designed to secure greater representation for the ACTU and ACCI on the Government's proposed federal OHS agency, Safe Work Australia.
A full bench of the Federal Court has allowed an appeal by a motel penalised $19,000 for underpaying an employee it made redundant, while a Darwin company that refused to back pay three teenage fast food workers less than $3,000 has been fined $45,000.
The AIRC's modern retail award exposure draft would result in significantly higher wage costs for the nation's retailers, with some facing a spike in their wages bill of up to 50%, retail employer groups say.
The AMMA maintains that pressure from unions and from within the ALP to scrap the ABCC is damaging investment confidence during a period of global turmoil, and has called on the Federal Government to confirm the construction watchdog will remain in force until January 31, 2010. It also wants the ALP to pre-empt the Wilcox inquiry and announce that the ABCC's existing powers and functions will be incorporated into the specialist division of Fair Work Australia for a minimum of five years.
The huge task of award modernisation and pending retirements of members threaten to further stretch the AIRC's already limited resources, according to its 2007-08 annual report, released today.
It is virtually impossible to bargain in good faith without a meaningful remedy, and the Rudd Government should borrow from Western Australia's labour laws that allow the State's IRC to make arbitrated enterprise orders, Professor Ron McCallum has argued in the AIER's new magazine launched today in Canberra.
The values applied by IR tribunals are crucial because they help to set public norms for fair and reasonable conduct in the workplace, AIRC President Justice Geoffrey Giudice said last night in a speech in Sydney. He also emphasised the critical role of actual and perceived independence and impartiality.
As union and employer groups continue to negotiate over the Federal Government's draft IR bill in CoIL meetings, two unions representing predominantly female workers have been in Canberra today lobbying politicians to include greater protections for employees in the legislation.
Second stoppage on Friday for Rio Tinto train drivers; van Rooden starts her Fair Work Australia role; and 100,000 expected to participate in National Ride to Work Day tomorrow.
Coverage of many traditional manufacturing enterprises could be lost to awards in industries such as construction and mining if changes aren’t made to the draft modern manufacturing award, both the AMWU and AiG have told the AIRC.
