The federal ALP's forthcoming IR policy will be focused on enterprise bargaining based on "simplified" awards and new legislated minimum standards, according to Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard.
Unions can play an important role in pushing employers to protect job security by addressing climate change, while the coal-dependent NSW power generation industry might have a dim future because of its limited potential to adopt "clean coal" measures, according to Australian of the Year, scientist Tim Flannery.
A new paper by IR academic David Peetz confirms that Work Choices is cutting productivity and real wages and unfairly removing workers' employment conditions, according to ACTU secretary Greg Combet.
The ETU in Victoria and the NECA are again seeking to negotiate a settlement for the State's electrical contracting sector following last year's changes to the construction industry code that rendered non-compliant the deals they had taken nearly a year to reach.
Coalition members and senators whose fears about the proposed Qantas sale weren't allayed at yesterday's meeting with Airline Partners Australia chair Bob Mansfield and Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon have raised them again at this morning's party room meeting.
The building industry watchdog has failed to stop a second Federal Court appeal by the CFMEU against an unlawful strike ruling, in an unusual judgment on the court's procedures for appeals against decisions of state industrial magistrates.
The Australian Workers Union, which has substantial membership in industries that generate large amounts of greenhouse gas, is pushing the Federal Government to urgently introduce carbon trading to combat global warming.
The SDA has rejected reports of a 12-month wage freeze applying to Myer's 21,000 retail employees, saying it is still negotiating with the company for a new collective agreement.
Shadow IR Minister Julia Gillard has hinted that the ALP might compromise with small businesses on its planned unfair dismissal policy, including conducting fast-track hearings on-site rather than in the AIRC.