Multinational companies such as Bluescope Steel, Pilkington, Alcoa and Exxon/Esso could be exposed to coordinated international industrial action, under a new strategic alliance struck between the AWU and the US steel union.
A company was justified in sacking an electrical technician for misconduct after he worked on a boiler without obtaining a safety permit, the NSW IRC has held.
Goward launches new work and family campaign; Alcoa seeks s127 orders to end strike over alleged sex toy gift; ASU members vote up Qantas deal; and Parliamentary independent contractor inquiry not to hold hearing until March.
A NSW council has been ordered to pay a former general manager $139,000 in salary and bonuses after the State IRC found his contract was terminated early and without adequate notice.
Hearings mid-month for independent contracting and right of entry inquiries; DEWR presses on with non-union deal despite rejection by employees; ACCI pushes for funding of ABCC; Victorian Supreme Court reserves in long service leave for casuals case; Connor elected as MEAA Victorian branch head; and new jobs for Jones and Gostencnik.
A proposed redefinition of the term "worker" under NSW workers compensation laws would deem all labour hire workers to be employees, regardless of how they are engaged.
The OECD has urged the Howard Government to reduce the number and scope of allowable award matters and cut the level of minimum wages, with the aim of lifting Australian labour productivity and labour market participation levels as the population ages.
