PM says IR changes won't cut real wages; "Caring" employer fends off computer programmer's bias claim; and Foreign exchange expert makes unfair contract claims over sales commissions.
Labour economist Bob Gregory has highlighted the political perils of substantially changing Australia's minimum wage architecture, saying it would affect not only workers on low wages, but also hundreds of thousands of welfare recipients.
Victorian unions will be the first off the mark in mounting a coordinated campaign against the Federal Government's planned IR changes, with about 2,000 workers expected to tomorrow endorse an action plan.
The number of union members in Australia has again fallen and the proportion of employees who are in unions has also hit a new low, with private sector density down to 17.4%.
A new fast-track Senate inquiry will report in May on the new Cole enforcement legislation's provisions, while the inquiry into independent contracting and labour hire will begin public hearings next week.
The Howard Government is facing a right-wing backlash against its plans for a unitary IR system, with the Institute of Public Affairs telling the HR Nicholls Society on the weekend that the move has dangers, particularly when the pendulum swings back in Labor's favour.
The Government is inclined towards taking minimum wage determination away from the AIRC, while a discussion paper will be released this week on the independent contractors legislation promised in last year's election campaign, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews said yesterday.
The Mitcham Frankston motorway project joint venturers, in their agreements certified today by the AIRC, have won significant rostering flexibility that is not available under the Victorian construction industry pattern agreement, but unions say the company is paying for the increased flexibility.
