A labour-hire worker at Patrick's Fisherman Islands stevedoring operation in Brisbane was not kept on by Skilled Engineering when it took over the maintenance contract for the site because of his role as a union delegate, the AIRC has found.
In a big blow for employers in WA's resources sector, the Federal Court has ruled today that AWAs don't displace the State right of entry regime and that authorised State union officials can enter sites regulated by AWAs and discuss issues with workers, as long as they don't disrupt work.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham went into AMWU territory today with a $25 million manufacturing package, but no policy announcement on the Free Trade Agreement with the USA.
The NSW Supreme Court has ruled that shares received by a managing director as repayment of income he loaned to his company didn't count towards the $200,000 remuneration cap for unfair contract claims under s106 of the State's IR Act.
In an embarrassment for the AWU, it is seeking ACTU endorsement of a proposed demarcation arrangement at Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations that has been drafted by the company's lawyers, Freehills.
CPI rises to 2.5%; ACTU says its time to bring James Hardie to account; Melbourne Cricket Club to appeal against long service leave ruling; Queensland reviews bonuses for executives; Rio Tinto executive to head mining skills taskforce; Andrews urges top 500 to audit workforce age profile; and Sydney University general staff vote up agreement.
An ASU official has been given two weeks to provide call centre company Salmat a written apology for breaching an AIRC confidentiality order over an AWA dispute, or face a referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions and possible criminal charges, in a ruling that highlights the strict secrecy provisions surrounding AWAs.
Coalition's unitary system plan a takeover, says Labor; Victorian Government moves to stop paramedics bans; Johnston sentence appeal starts next week; AIRC full bench to begin hearing Victorian common rule case next week; NSW IRC takes hard line on OHS risk elimination; and Yallourn deal delivers 6.5% a year, but CFMEU says workers could have done better.
The ACTU has today called for employers to be given greater subsidies for apprentices, to overcome a forecast shortage of 130,000 skilled workers in 2009.