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.
The ALP has denied watering down its AWA-abolition policy to prevent workers opting out of unfair agreements, but says it will consult with major employers before finalising the transitional arrangements for the individual contracts.
The ALP's IR policy, like the Work Choices legislation it would replace, risks an increased corporatisation of labour law by using the Constitutional powers enshrined by the High Court's Work Choices decision, according to the Dean of Law at the University of Sydney, Professor Ron McCallum.
In the wake of Labor releasing its IR policy, Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard has sought to get business onside by promising it will be part of an advisory group to help to draft Labor's workplace legislation if it takes power this year.
