Compulsory post-PABO conferences further complicate an already onerous process, with little or no benefit, the ACTU, ANMF and CFMEU have told the review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, while the Ai Group says the conferences are "often worthwhile" and can avert industrial action.
Ahead of next year's election that might deliver them the balance of power, eight independent MPs have thrown their weight behind ACCI calls to increase the small business-defining headcount from 15 to "at least" 25, so employers can focus on serving customers "rather than wading through burdensome red tape"..
Sacked CFMEU construction division officials challenging the federal government's constitutional right to administer its branches say the "truth" behind August's law changes is that they take democratic control from members if Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt considers it in the "public interest", while leaving it for him to decide whether to give it back.
The FWC has thrown out an agreement approval application because a "show of hands" vote counted by a manager failed to ensure confidentiality, but has confirmed such ballots are permissible.
The SDA is calling on the FWC to use its powers to unilaterally amend a proposed Sephora agreement if it refuses to provide undertakings tackling an allegedly "diabolical" overtime pay freeze it contends the beauty retailer did not explain to workers.
Woolworths has today made an urgent application seeking that the FWC make orders to halt striking UWU members from "blocking access" to a Melbourne warehouse and three others in Victoria and NSW that has cost the business a claimed $50 million in sales.
Andrew Stewart heading to Queensland; FWC spells out what constitutes "anti-avoidance" in CFMEU administration; Maurice Blackburn workers to take industrial action; Government backs most slavery review findings; and Watt hails RtD becoming part of lexicon.
The ETU has initiated an adverse action case in the Federal Court against power company Ausgrid, alleging it cancelled a Christmas leave day and contributions to a Christmas party and banned overtime because of electricians' protracted campaign of protected strikes and intention to continue them.
A FWC presidential member has underlined that workers are not immune from retrenchment while on leave or working under flexible arrangements, confirming that operational issues warranting severance can arise at any time.
