Two of Australia's largest unions, the SDA and United Voice, are seeking increases to the minimum wage of 10% or more, well above the rise sought by the ACTU.
A full Federal Court majority has found that the court cannot treat a "lawful request" or a party's motivation for taking coercive industrial action as a mitigating factor when assessing penalties and has ordered a twelve-fold increase in fines against the CFMEU for organising a blockade at Perth International Airport in 2013.
New ACTU secretary Sally McManus has defended her support for unionists to break "unjust laws", arguing the ability to strike is a "human right" and that Australia is out of step with international labour conventions.
A full Federal Court will in August hear an application from Queensland employers facing millions of dollars in backpay claims following a full FWC bench decision that apprentices' pay should be measured against the more generous federal award rather than the state award when conducting the BOOT.
The Productivity Commission has called for the assessment and approval of default superannuation providers to be removed from the award system and the oversight of the Fair Work Commission.
Two important minor parties – the Nick Xenophon Team and Pauline Hanson's One Nation – have reversed their support for cutting penalty rates in the retail and hospitality sectors.
Workers at spice giant McCormick Foods are commencing rolling strikes today as a call for a consumer boycott of iconic products such as Aeroplane Jelly and Keen's Mustard gains traction on social media.
United Voice will oppose employer groups representing licenced clubs and restaurants being allowed to "re-litigate" the claims they unsuccessfully argued in the penalty rates case.
The ACTU is asking the FWC for a $45 a week or 6.7% increase in the national minimum wage, as it begins a push under its fresh leadership to lift minimum rates towards a new benchmark against average weekly earnings.
