Tensions over the CFMEU's forestry and furnishing division's role in supporting the Howard Government's Tasmanian logging policy during the last federal election have spilled over, with the branch boycotting next week's national conference of the union.
The ABCC has clocked up another court victory in its paper chase against reluctant employers, with the Heidelberg Magistrates Court in Melbourne yesterday fining a contractor $500 for refusing a request to produce documents to the former Building Industry Taskforce.
In his first public speech since stepping down from a 13-year reign as the head of the CBA, David Murray has warned employers that they will be at a competitive disadvantage if they fail to use the new tools available under the Howard Government’s second wave of IR change.
The Federal Opposition has accused the Coalition of having 60,000 colour brochures on its second wave IR legislation pulped because market research showed the "spin" wasn't right.
Academic economist Professor Ian Harper will be the first chair of the new Australian Fair Pay Commission, the Prime Minister, John Howard, announced today.
The Federal Government has now agreed to a Senate inquiry into its new IR legislation - but it will be short and it will exclude many of the key planks of the proposed changes.
Federal Court fines Multiplex $4,000 over strike pay; Howard denies misleading over WorkChoice protections, defends ad campaign; and "Low to moderate" CPSU industrial action allowed to continue at Centrelink.
Unions will be barred from representing small businesses in collective bargaining after the passage last night of amendments to the Trade Practices Act, while there have also been developments in other workplace-related legislation.
The Federal Government is extending its General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) to cover more workers and wages unpaid in the three months before an employer becomes insolvent.
