The ACTU has flagged that the High Court could open the way for a future Labor Government to directly legislate to set minimum wages, while the AMWU is pushing for the Federal Government to protect the Easter Tuesday public holiday which has been enjoyed by more than 40,000 metalworkers in NSW.
Transport Accident Commission employees who move from Melbourne to Geelong as part of the organisation's planned relocation will have the transition made easier by either a $15,000 lump sum, a payment equal to 20% of their salary or an additional 8 weeks paid leave.
In the final High Court directions hearing before the States' IR challenge begins, the maritime unions were this morning unsuccessful in seeking to join the case.
Australians who want to reverse the Work Choices regime must put Labor in Government at next year's election, rather than just change the Senate balance of power, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said tonight.
Optus denies sackings due to Work Choices; and Nassios filling in after Wilson's departure from AIR; and Bethwaite steps down from leadership of ABL State Chamber.
A Victorian charity will be able to ask the AIRC to consider its financial position if it claims to be unable to afford the last of four 3% pay rises under a new enterprise agreement voted on today.
In a series of announcements, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews today said that the Government was dropping all pre-Work Choices s127 prosecutions; revealed a new team of DEWR specialists would investigate future breaches of the Act; confirmed he was considering changing onerous record-keeping obligations on employers; and announced the successful tenderers for the Work Choices Employer Advisor Program.
In a move employers argue can only affect the businesses that can least afford it, the Western Australian Government has introduced legislation aimed at bolstering the state's minimum employment conditions and giving federally-covered WA workers a good faith bargaining entitlement.
Qantas group executives denied labour costs were a major factor in their decision announced today to axe Australian Airlines and launch new international routes for their low-cost Jetstar subsidiary.
Law firm Whyburns Legal merged with Maurice Blackburn Cashman in November 2004, not with Slater & Gordon last year, as reported by Workplace Express on Friday (in News in brief).
