A mass meeting at BHP's Port Hedland site in the Pilbara today has, as anticipated, again rejected the company's collective offer and a further meeting in Newman this afternoon is expected to yield the same result, putting the focus of the individual contracts dispute back on the Federal Court trial.
The threat of industrial action in the tax office coinciding with the introduction of the GST looks like being averted, with the CPSU forced to back away from its earlier position of rejecting the department's bargaining offer.
Thousands of freight drivers on award rates whose living wage increase was delayed last year will not have to wait a full 12 months before receiving this year's rise, following an IRC full bench decision.
Employees in NSW will be able to take five single days a year of annual leave and part-time workers will receive more holiday pay under changes to laws governing leave.
The NSW Government has delayed debate on the key "contractor deeming" provision in its package of amendments to the State IR Act, after winning support from just four of the 11 cross-benchers who hold the balance of power in the State's Upper House.
The AiG has played down the significance of a Campaign 2000 break-out deal, saying it was no surprise some employers were bedding-down agreements with the metal industry unions given the number that were expiring.
The South Australian, Tasmanian and Queensland governments are about to make six new appointments to their IR tribunals, with speculation mounting about the contenders for the new positions.
