ACTU opposes commission-only pay; NSW unions seeking 4% pay rise; McDonald granted bail; Labor not going back to pre-1993 IR system, says Keating; Bastard Boys goes to air next week; Roping-in case not the first; SDA's Ryan moves to Pharmacy Guild; Former Greens media advisor to spin for unions; and NSW Government offers job swaps for workers ahead of relocation.
Prime Minister John Howard today said that ALP Deputy Leader Julia Gillard deserved what she got from the media over her "injuries" comment to business, while Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said Labor would continue to talk to the mining industry about his party's IR policy.
Law firm Blake Dawson Waldron has listed union right of entry and secondary boycotts among ten issues it says have not been dealt with in the ALP's IR policy.
Talks between the AMMA board and Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard in Melbourne today failed to resolve disagreement over the ALP's policy to abolish AWAs.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet will announce his candidacy for federal parliament in the next two days, which is expected to clear the way for LHMU national secretary Jeff Lawrence to take over the union leadership.
Employers will able to easily avoid having to extend their employees' parental leave from 12 to 24 months if a Rudd Government is elected, and employees will have no access to an appeal mechanism, Labor has revealed as it responds to business criticism of its IR policy.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet has until Friday morning to declare whether he will seek preselection for the safe Labor seat of Charlton in NSW, after the ALP national executive opened nominations this morning.
The Victorian Government has committed $4 million over four years for new IR programs, including $1 million to legislate and promote a minimum pay and conditions standard for employees in the State without federal award coverage.
As the ALP defended itself against the continued assault on its new IR policy by the Coalition and sectors of the business community, the CFMEU (mining & energy division) today maintained that mining giant BHP Billiton was running a political agenda in supporting AWAs.
Unions will be able to use bargaining to demand bargaining fees, require union fee deductions and restrict engagement of contractors and labour hire workers if a Rudd Labor Government is elected, according to Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey.
