Just weeks after he brokered a settlement of hydrocarbon giant Chevron's bargaining dispute, Fair Work Commission mediator Bernie Riordan is back on the job after the company sought his help to resolve agreement drafting issues that have led to unions preparing for renewed industrial action from October 19.
The FWC has ordered a mining company to reinstate a worker it sacked on "inaccurate" medical advice and has recommended that if employers encounter competing medical opinions, they consult an independent expert.
Former SDA leader Peter O'Keeffe has expressed hope that his experience of being eviscerated by a full bench when forced to argue an absent colleague's porous case will help him perform his new FWC presidential duties with "patience and sympathy".
The Productivity Commission's leadership and human resources teams will undergo training in trauma-informed, victim-centred responses, as part of a suite of "significant" changes for the advisory body, after staff told an independent review that HR is a "black box" offering limited insight into actions to address complaints of inappropriate workplace behaviours.
Australia's largest union has recommended a raft of amendments to bolster the changes to delegates' rights in the Closing Loopholes Bill, while the inquiry into the legislation will tomorrow hear from the gig platform believed to be the target of trenchant criticism from Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke in a recent national press club speech.
The Offshore Alliance is about to resume industrial action at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone onshore LNG processing facilities, amid accusations the energy giant reneged on a commitment to incorporate FWC peace deal recommendations into its agreements.
A worker's sacking rendered unfair by procedural "deficiencies" followed her employer relying heavily on subscription-based HR software program "Happy HR", which provides technical support but not tailored advice.
Industrial action looming in Burke's backyard; AI inquiry to consider effects on labour market; Parliamentary committee to consider whether medical marijuana users should be caught by drug tests; Treasury seeking feedback on super tax plan; and White paper outlines broader full employment objective.
New FWC member Oanh Tran invoked lyrics from cinematic showstopper This Is Me during her welcome ceremony, while revealing that she only finally "owned" her refugee family's history as outworkers in a home sweatshop when current ACTU president Michele O'Neil interviewed her for a role at the former textile workers union.
A pre-Christmas waterfront battle between the MUA and container terminal operator DP World kicks off today with a 48-hour strike in Fremantle, which started at 6am WA time, to be followed by a 44-hour stoppage in Melbourne, from noon on Sunday.
