Despite the highest wages growth in seven years, inflation has edged down to just 2.8% annually, after a modest 0.5% rise in the December quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet has condemned the award rationalisation process as a "slash and burn process", criticised the absence of any women on the rationalisation taskforce's reference group, and expressed confidence in Tony Slevin, the sole remaining reference group member with a union background after Monday's appointment debacle.
The Australian Fair Pay Commission is significantly different from the UK model to which it has been favourably compared by the Federal Government, an academic seminar has heard.
Companies wanting to solve skills shortages with migrant labour will be presented with a planned national union protocol to be developed through the ACTU to protect Australian jobs and prevent exploitation of foreign workers.
Architect of IR change in education sector moves to Defence in Coalition ministerial reshuffle; Labor IR Taskforce to start consultations in Tasmania; and Up to eight weeks paid parental leave for Hudson employees.
The Federal Court has ordered cleaning contractor Prestige Property Services Pty Ltd to pay almost $190,000 in back-pay and interest to cleaners at the Victorian Arts Centre.
In a blow to the Howard Government's crucial award rationalisation process, AWU national and Victorian branch secretary Bill Shorten has demanded Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews withdraw the appointment of one of his state branch officials to an expert reference group, saying the union never agreed to taking part.