The ACTU case for industry-wide bargaining has received a boost from across the Tasman after a government-appointed working party headed by a former conservative prime minister offered a blueprint for a return to sectoral negotiations as an answer to wage stagnation, growing inequality and "hollowing out" of the middle class.
A Federal Court judge has warned both sides over the conduct of a long-running case in which two former CFMMEU organisers claim they were driven out of their jobs for whistleblowing in a media interview, going so far as to remind the parties he can stop lawyers charging for "misconceived" work.
A Queensland professional association that markets itself as a cheaper, apolitical alternative to unions is calling on the FWC to force a major employer to seat it at the same table during bargaining meetings, ahead of its planned expansion by the end of the year.
The Federal Court is set to hear an AWU bid for a temporary suppression order on reporting of oral evidence in its case challenging the validity of Federal Police raids on union offices in October 2017.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has confirmed it is still pursuing its Federal Court action that might determine whether former delivery riders and drivers at the collapsed Foodora business were employees rather than independent contractors.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched the first legal action using new reverse onus of proof provisions that require employers to disprove underpayment claims if they have not kept adequate records.
CPI falls to 1.8%; FWC upholds Telstra sacking; Tribunal extends negotiating period at BP Kwinana; Rossato case to go to expedited full court hearing; Tasmania redrafts workplace protester legislation after High Court ruling; and FWC seeks feedback on public sector award reviews.
Unions NSW will convene an "emergency meeting" within the next week to develop a joint union campaign ahead of the state election that emphasises jobs, services, the bush, public assets and transport after the High Court today upheld its challenge to third party campaigning laws.
The collapse of the Foodora food delivery business showed that Australian regulators have been slow to react to the gig economy, according to the background paper for a Victorian government inquiry into the sector.
