The Albanese Government's embrace of the Coalition-initiated AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact looms as a policy flashpoint for unions and rank-and-file party members at this week's ALP national conference in Brisbane.
In figures that don't align with the RBA's warnings about a wage-price spiral, new ABS figures show private sector rates of pay excluding bonuses are rising at an unchanged 3.8% a year.
The FWC is poised to shelve a three-day hearing of RAFFWU's bid to terminate Apple's 2014 agreement if workers this weekend vote up a proposed new deal, which has won the backing of both the SDA and the ASU.
"Improvements" to bargaining and increased wages bills have produced a "win-win" situation for businesses and workers, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told an audience of employers gathered to celebrate the Ai Group's 150th anniversary.
Woolworths has failed in its bid to vary the Retail Award to "clarify" that the instrument covers its burgeoning online fulfilment operations, avoiding potentially significant knock-on effects for the e-commerce, road transport and distribution industries.
A prisons department unreasonably transferred an officer after twice pursuing "trivial" allegations that he referred to a director as a "prick", a tribunal has held, finding abusive language common in his "toxic and divided workplace".
Employers that restructure to take advantage of artificial intelligence would be "responsible" for reskilling their workforces to avoid unnecessary redundancies, under a policy to be considered by this week's ALP national conference.
The FWC has refused to approve two deals voted up by "full-time" workers but expressed solely to cover casuals, and nor has it let the employer correct the alleged typo to say they cover "permanent" staff given they "clearly" contemplate casual employment.
After Woodside workers this week endorsed protected action at three key gas platforms off WA's north-west coast, Chevron workers are voting on whether to strike at two onshore facilities serving its Gorgon and Wheatstone projects, in a move potentially causing even more uncertainty for global LNG supply chains.
Sharan Burrow speaking next week; Peace deal for National Rugby League; Walton, O'Dwyer appointed to NRF board; and Big response to price gouging inquiry, says ACTU's McManus.
