A Rudd Labor Government would bring back the worst features of centralised wage-fixing, Prime Minister John Howard warned the Queensland Media Club yesterday, while Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson proposed a raft of new measures, including payroll tax harmonisation, to lift Australia's flagging labour productivity growth.
Labor's IR policies are not likely to threaten the low inflation environment, while wage pressures can be contained best by maintaining a strong flow of overseas migrants and encouraging education and training in skill-short areas, according to new analysis by Citigroup.
Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard has rejected ACTU calls for more details of its IR policy to be included in the ALP platform to be decided at the party's national conference starting in Sydney on Friday.
The Fair Pay Commission is holding consultations on a process to publish legally-binding Australian Pay and Classification Scales, following industry criticism of the uncertainty resulting from its failure to publish the details after its first minimum wages decision last year.
AMWU refused appeal on internal elections dispute; ABCC wins FoA case after CFMEU admits pressure against non-union painters; Beattie warns local councils against using Work Choices; PC inquires into labour market; and Echoes of Blair in Rudd's industrial action pronouncements?
Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey today said he was "actively considering" commissioning a study on AWAs; ruled out legislating before the next election to make unions more accountable for their spending; and maintained the federal ALP's IR policy was already "unravelling".
Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard maintained today that Labor would achieve a uniform national system for the private sector via the two alternative channels outlined by Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd on Tuesday - referral or harmonisation/cooperation - despite NSW's and Queensland's reluctance to join Victoria in opting for referral.
The Bracks Government's use of its purchasing power to regulate labour standards of contract cleaning contractors has provided a model with "enormous potential" for expansion beyond services purchases into other areas of government procurement, including goods, according to a university study.
A metal engineering company has lost its bid for injunctions under the Trade Practices Act against a long-running picket line after the Federal Court found there was insufficient evidence that it would significantly damage the business.
