Private childcare providers have asked the Fair Pay Commission to provide no minimum pay increase in the sector because of recent substantial work value rises, while hospitality employers want a reduction in casual loading and say minimum wage workers have already received a substantial safety net rise via the tax cuts that took effect on July 1.
Public school teachers in the ACT will hold rolling stoppages from next week after again voting overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in their second secret ballot conducted under Work Choices.
An AIRC full bench has found that the ANF wasn't pattern bargaining against two Melbourne aged care facilities run by a single entity, in a decision that makes it clear that the way unions initiate bargaining periods will influence their prospects of having a secret ballot granted.
A major logistics company has been ordered to pay $25,000 in damages to a Muslim former employee who was called "bombchucker" and "Osama Bin Laden" by work colleagues.
The ACTU has launched a new radio advertising campaign that reinforces its message that Work Choices will make it harder for working families and young people to get a fair go.
The DEWR is to further examine whether the Federal Government's independent contractors legislation in any way undermines existing protections for outworkers.
Wages to remain stable, defying labour demand, says RBA; 10.5% pay rise over three years at KMart; and Ford does deal solely with vehicles union, after failing to reach accord with other unions.
The Senate inquiry into the Independent Contractors Bill might reconvene later this month to draft amendments on clothing industry outworkers, after hearing evidence that the legislation fails to meet its stated objective of protecting vulnerable workers in the industry.
The Australian Council of Social Service has urged the Fair Pay Commission to deliver a minimum pay rise in line with general wage movements - currently about 4% a year - and to develop a benchmark for "a decent basic living standard" for a single adult to guide its considerations.
ALP senators today questioned the representative status of the Independent Contractors Association during the final day of the two-day Senate Inquiry into the independent contractors legislation - and tabled a memo in which executive director Ken Philips said it was "becoming clear that the detail of the Bill will be of WorkChoices disaster proportions".
