The 129-day dispute at the Qenos petrochemicals production facility in Altona, Victoria, is over, with employees on Saturday voting in favour of accepting the IRC's return to work recommendations.
Leaders of unions representing workers across BHP's operations today pledged to stand by the company's unionised Pilbara workforce in the wake of yesterday's decision to take the individual contracts battle out of the courts - but were guarded about what that entailed.
The ACTU has made a pitch to the Democrats to support the introduction of works councils if a Labor Government takes power at the next federal election.
Casual employees with less than 12 months service could be entitled to make unfair dismissal claims, if the SDA is successful in a bid to have regulations excluding short-term casuals declared invalid.
Unions representing BHP Iron Ore workers have dropped their appeal against the Federal Court finding that the company's individual contracts push was lawful, and will attempt now to win their battle on the ground and in the State IRC.
NSW IR Minister John Della Bosca has announced plans to ensure annual leave for award-covered part-time workers is based on their usual pattern of working hours.
The ACTU will go ahead with plans to run a test case on parental leave for casual employees despite support from peak employer group the ACCI for the bulk of its claim.
An incentive package for 600 employees of a business sold by AMP doesn't match inducements offered by other large finance employers in similar circumstances, according to the FSU.
