Peter Costello has been a "warrior for industrial relations reform" and isn't afraid to take a tough line on IR change, Prime Minister Howard said today.
Independent schools in NSW have bypassed the teachers' union with a proposal to boost pay rates - partly by providing for stronger links to performance - while reducing conditions such as long service leave, annual leave and removing annual leave loading.
Secret ballot industrial action that starts during the new 30-day time limit could continue until the end of the bargaining period, the Federal Court has ruled in a case stressing the importance of specific wording in ballot questions.
The ship stranded in Hobart as a result of a bitter dispute over the use of foreign labour - the MV Stolt Australia - sailed for Singapore late last night after the Norwegian-based company reached an agreement with unions.
The AIRC has issued an interim direction stopping the termination of employees until a redundancy package has been negotiated in line with an enterprise agreement, despite arguments that the Work Choices changes removed its powers.
Strong export income and historically low unit labour costs have driven robust recent employment growth that defied last year's softening in economic growth, according to ABS research released today.
The CEPU is protesting today against Telstra's plans to cut jobs and reduce the wages of more than 200 installation and management employees through the closure of Work Management Centres in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Bendigo.
Employees who left work to join national union demonstrations against Work Choices on June 28 were engaged in unlawful industrial action, according to two AIRC rulings sought by Australia Post and Nestle.
Fair Pay Commission to run second public consultation tomorrow; Submissions due for Queensland Work Choices inquiry next week; Demoted Navy officer wins 50% costs order for discrimination; Work Choices a bonanza for Jackson Wells Morris, Colmar Brunton; AIRC to move Melbourne HQ in September; Federal politicians' pay up 7% from July 1; and ABC to start filming waterfront dispute mini-series next week.
Unions today lost their first fully-argued application for a secret ballot to take strike action under Work Choices, in a test case on the new law's genuine bargaining requirements.
