Real non-farm unit labour costs have grown strongly in trend terms for the second quarter in a row, while gross value added per hour worked in the market sector has now increased for 26 of the past 27 quarters, according to ABS national accounts data released today.
The AMWU has welcomed an FWC recommendation to end the long-running maintenance dispute at Griffin Coal and put a proposed agreement to the workforce, calling the package a "common sense middle ground" and a "sensible solution".
CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch secretary John Setka has foreshadowed an appeal to the High Court if the State's Court of Appeal does not throw out blackmail charges against him and his lieutenant next year.
Time is running out for the Turnbull Government to pass its Bill to impose a public interest test on union mergers before the FWC considers green-lighting the CFMEU, MUA and TCFU amalgamation, with the tribunal planning to conduct a hearing in early February.
United Voice's Victorian branch has unveiled a Trip Advisor-style website to expose alleged wage theft and sexual harassment in the hospitality industry.
Labor's audacious bid to restore penalty rates in the retail and hospitality sectors by piggy-backing one of the Federal Government's own IR bills fell at the first hurdle today, when rebel Nationals MP George Christensen indicated he could not support legislation that failed to protect businesses from back-pay claims.
As teachers in about 350 NSW and ACT Catholic schools strike today over a proposed agreement's lack of guaranteed access to arbitration, employers claim the move is an attempt by the IEU to dissuade them from voting for the deal tomorrow.
The Federal Circuit Court will next week consider claims by the director of a public relations company that it took adverse action when it discriminated against him because of his mental illness and sacked him when he complained.
