Kevin Andrews will continue as Workplace Relations Minister, as the fourth-term Howard Government readies itself to implement its IR agenda unfettered by the Senate.
The High Court's Justice Michael Kirby has praised the role conciliation and arbitration have played in shaping Australia and has rejected calls to weaken or abolish the AIRC, maintaining there is "no room in this nation for industrial ayatollahs".
Qantas ready to deal with flight attendants' "sick out", Dixon tells AGM; Partial annual leave cash-out OK, says Queensland IRC; Union organiser fails in unfair dismissal bid; and AIRC certifies deal after finding trade union training leave and contractor clauses pertain to the employment relationship.
Woolclassers have won a phased-in increase in their casual loading from 20% to 25% and have caught up on missed safety-net increases following a variation to their federal award by a full bench of the AIRC.
Esso's Bass Strait contractors have appealed AIRC member Dominica Whelan's landmark finding that it was against the public interest to terminate their bargaining period because of work and family impacts and Esso's hindrance of genuine bargaining.
New panels for AIRC; Disciplining firefighters the preserve of legislation, not certified agreement; Fuji technicians escape Big Brother; AWU resolutions fail at BlueScope AGM, but union concerns dominate proceedings; and Garage door installer a contractor, AIRC finds.
St George employees have voted up a new enterprise agreement that delivers a 12% wage rise over three years, plus additional increases for workers on the lowest pay levels.
The AIRC has observed today that a sudden drop in attendance of Qantas flight attendant trainees at union induction sessions "looks a little odd" and suggested that "where there's smoke there's fire", following FAAA allegations of intimidation and harassment of the trainees.
Customs officers going out on Friday; AIRC reinstates public servant sacked for credit-card fraud; Australia Post says program increases emotional intelligence.
The AWU will today be seeking support from Bluescope Steel shareholders to change the constitution of the company to cap directors' and executives' salaries at 20 times average earnings.