The AWU has a new WA branch secretary following incumbent Mike Zoetbrood's departure in the wake of a controversial casual vacancy election for an honorary position late last year which attracted claims of "irregularities" and blackmail.
The Morrison Government's cabinet reshuffle transferring its industrial relations functions, bureaucracy and agencies to the Attorney-General's Department reinforces the sense the portfolio is an "afterthought", says a leading academic.
The FWO has launched a test case against the operator of a pop-up toy store, seeking to reverse the onus of proof for underpayments and rely for the first time on serious contraventions provisions that potentially expose the company and its director to 10 times the ordinary maximum penalties.
Business representatives, unions and legal practitioners speaking at this year's NSW IR Society conference agreed that the industrial relations system is far from "fixed", but split on causes, consequences and possible solutions.
The head of Western Australia's Industrial Relations Commission has vented her frustration at the efforts of an unfair dismissal advocate by expressing a desire for legislative changes that would empower the tribunal to "discipline" underperforming agents.
A lawyer accused of bullying has failed to convince the Federal Court that it should stop a law firm from potentially expelling her as a partner because it treated her less favourably than male colleagues, the court holding that conduct that included an "inflammatory" letter following the complaints set her circumstances apart.
Incoming IR Minister Christian Porter says he is open to meeting "serious members" of the union movement, while arguing that Australia has "soundly rejected class warfare" at the recent Federal election.
A senior FWC member has lamented the continuing "abuse" of the Commission's stop bullying jurisdiction in refusing to shield a casino employee from the consequences of conduct that included repeatedly spitting into a bin.
