School students are particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous employers and have little understanding of their bargaining rights under Work Choices, according to a survey for the NSW Teachers Federation that Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey immediately dismissed as "a political stunt".
Prime Minister John Howard last night used a speech to a national small business summit to seek to portray Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd as a "patsy" of the union movement.
A sacked glass factory worker has had his unfair dismissal case rejected by the AIRC after it found the employer cut staff for genuine operational reasons due to a business downturn.
AMMA warns ALP on ABCC powers, right of entry, civil remedies and secondary boycotts; ACTU tax research says average workers "ripped off"; and RCSA talks with ALP leaders.
The Workplace Authority (formerly OEA) and Workplace Ombudsman (formerly OWS) start their new roles this week (from July 1) after the proclamation of the fairness test changes.
Qantas short-haul pilots have again resoundingly voted down their proposed enterprise agreement, while their Virgin Blue counterparts have narrowly voted up their deal on the second attempt.
Union objections to ABCC a pantomime, says Howard; OWS to investigate Pele Curtains case, CFMEU to seek to recover entitlements; and Cochlear workers vote down non-union deal again.
After a long and bruising internal battle, the post-Cameron succession plan devised by the AMWU's dominant National Left faction with the support of the now disbanded Workers First has succeeded.
OWS pursues Darrell Lea over 12 counts of alleged duress; Unfair dismissal income cap tops $100,000; Census confirms ageing of population; Indigenous participation up, unemployment down, says ABS; AIRC Perth and Adelaide registries change floors, contacts; Skilled's Fitzgerald retires; Tourism inquiry hears Work Choices cutting wages, while recruitment and retention major problems; and Clarification of employment rights charter report.
The Greens, who could hold the balance of power in the next Senate, are seeking union support for legal changes to allow industrial action for environmental reasons as part of its federal election campaign.
