AIRC to hear bid to counter Victorian nurses strike this afternoon; Senior judge criticises Telstra and Deacons; and Just Jeans employee wins job back after summary dismissal.
Victorian workers who called community-based employment rights advocate JobWatch after the advent of Work Choices were negative about and fearful of the legislation, with their primary concern the job insecurity resulting from unfair dismissal changes, according to a new study.
Up to 40,000 Victorian public sector nurses will tomorrow start a campaign of unprotected industrial action, after a stopwork meeting in Melbourne today voted unanimously in favour.
The Howard Government has spent $66 million to advertise the fairness test, on top of the $55m it spent on its Work Choices campaign, according to a Federal Budget update released yesterday.
Howard denies plans to go further with Work Choices; and Service station franchisees docking workers' pay after drive-offs, says WA Fair Employment Advocate.
Work Choices has been "a political catastrophe" for the Coalition and has taken Australia "backwards a long way", while Labor's proposal to axe AWAs won't have any substantial economic impact, according to the senior economic advisor to former Prime Minister Paul Keating.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has today pledged to repeal Work Choices if Labor is elected on November 24 and warned that if the Howard Government is returned the laws "would be made even worse".
Prime Minister John Howard has warned today that if voters elect the Opposition at the November 24 election, Australians will face a Rudd Labor Government dominated by former union officials that will re-introduce unfair dismissal laws and drive up unemployment.
BHP Billiton unions have taken the first steps in developing a global network, after meeting in Brisbane this week to plan a strategy that will include protest action at the company's AGM in Adelaide in November.
Secret ballots barred when unions/employers seeking multi-employer agreement; Greens push for 18 weeks public-funded paid parental leave; Workplace Authority to make agreements available late this month or early November; New website aimed at young workers; and Hadgkiss should reject invitation to speak at HR Nicholls conference, says CFMEU.
