The IRC has refused BHP's bid to end bargaining periods at its Central Queensland coal mines, ruling that the High Court's landmark Coal and Allied decision last year raised the "jurisdictional bar" for parties trying to establish that industrial action is seriously harming the economy or society.
Employers should make it clear when engaging employees that any share or share option entitlements are subject to the company’s share plan, following a court judgment that allowed a senior employee almost unfettered access to a substantial package of shares and options after completing just six months of service.
The IRC has indicated the extent to which it will take into account the economic circumstances of an employer seeking anti-strike orders, after issuing a s127 order against the AMWU's vehicle division.
The Federal Court has extended the interlocutory injunction preventing construction union leader John Sutton and his supporters from bringing forward the election of his position to avoid a rebel challenge.
The AMWU has won its bid to have a paid dispute settlement training clause inserted into the main metal industry award, though the IRC has substantially scaled back its scope.
The IRC has certified the enterprise agreement for Virgin Blue's Brisbane call centre, after rejecting calls by the ASU to delay hearing the certification application.
The changing demographics of the workforce will force organisations to rethink their attitudes on recruiting and retaining mature workers, according to a report released by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Following its decision to increase the casual loading for Queensland award employees from 19% to 23%, the Queensland IRC has changed the date when the increase starts phasing-in.
Skilled Engineering and a group of contract maintenance companies supplying services to Esso at its Longford and Long Island gas plants in Victoria have succeeded in having a bargaining period suspended by the IRC.
In a blow to the FSU's big banks enterprise bargaining campaign, the CBA's proposed new enterprise agreement holds its 23,000 award employees to a fixed pay increase of just 7% over two years, while a performance pay scheme is expected to deliver a further 3% minimum increase for employees who meet standards.
