A full bench of the Federal Court has upheld in part the ABCC's appeal against a finding last year in which it failed to establish a coercion in agreement-making claim against the CFMEU (construction division), but was successful in its prosecution for freedom of association breaches.
Former Prime Minister John Howard, in his first public speech since his election defeat, has said it would be "a mistake" if the Rudd Government reversed the Coalition's IR reforms.
Labour productivity increased by 0.7% in 2007, according to the ABS, while the equal opportunity agency says the gender pay gap is smaller among the 99 women's employers of choice than for other employers.
The Rudd Government's proposed no disadvantage test should be strengthened to better protect employees and the transitional IR legislation amended to make collective agreements override expired ITEAs or AWAs, according to University of Adelaide Professor of Law, Andrew Stewart.
DEEWR estimates only 5% to 7% of employees are covered by AWAs, saying the Workplace Authority has overstated the rate by assuming that no affected workers resigned, were promoted or dismissed.
The ACCI is pressing the Rudd Government for a host of changes to its transitional IR legislation, particularly to make ITEAs available to all employees and to extend their term to five years.
Unions will seek real wage increases compared to inflation in upcoming bargaining rounds and in this year's minimum wage determination by the Fair Pay Commission, the ACTU has signalled.
About 3,000 coal mining workers are voting on an agreement between the CFMEU (mining & energy division) and the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance for the company's central Queensland coal sites that delivers a 5% wage rise for each of its three years, a $3,500 one-off payment, significantly improved super, and a $5,000-a-year increase to the production bonus.
Employers facing employee turnover rates of up to 60% over the life of a project in the WA construction sector appealed today to the Federal Government at a Senate inquiry hearing to amend its transitional legislation to allow ITEAs to be offered to former employees.
The ACTU is urging the Rudd Government to broaden the scope of awards by reviving "exceptional award matters" and to adhere to its election promise by allowing modernisation of enterprise awards if requested by parties.
