In what unions claim is another example of bureaucracy gone mad under Work Choices, the AIRC today ordered a separate secret ballot for industrial action for a single ETU member at a Victorian factory where the AMWU has already won a similar order covering other employees.
A full bench of the AIRC has put to an end the maritime unions' long-running bid to get up federal award coverage of permit ships with foreign crew. Any chance of having pay and conditions on these vessels regulated under Australian law now rests with the unions' High Court challenge to a Work Choices regulation.
The company at the centre of a test case on the new unfair dismissal rules under Work Choices today hit back at union claims against its sacking of nine machine operators on the day after the Act's commencement, saying the workers had no recourse because it had fewer than 100 employees.
Three out of every five working families rely at least partially on working arrangements such as flexible working hours, part-time work and job sharing to meet their child care needs, according to a new ABS survey.
Child care AWAs cut pay and conditions, says Opposition; Lawrence tipped as Workplace Rights Advocate; No duress when AWA offered, says Federal Court; Papers sought for labour law conference; and OWS not referring callers to state authorities, say state IR ministers.
CFMEU members began the first protected strike action under Work Choices today with a 24-hour stoppage at United Collieries' mine in the NSW Hunter Valley.
WA's Industrial Appeal Court has ruled that state tribunals can continue to exercise appeal powers despite the Work Choices Act, in a full bench ruling that also has implications for labour hire employment.
The Work Choices regulations that forbid union training clauses in industrial agreements do not prevent training actually being provided, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews has confirmed.
A majority of the Australian Tax Office’s 20,000-plus employees have expressed their support for a 13% over three years pay offer under a draft deal that is yet to be signed off by the DEWR.
