With Australia's vehicle industry facing further major disruption next week as a result of a dispute at Pilkington Automotive, it today received some welcome positive news from the Federal Government.
The AIRC got a glimpse of Victoria's murky underworld recently following a dispute over an expenses claim by a special operations police officer who moved house after a known criminal with a violent history got hold of his personal details.
The ALP and ACTU have threatened a High Court challenge to the Federal Government's multi-million dollar IR advertising campaign if the Coalition cannot show the expenditure has been properly authorised.
Stockbrokers employed by a Commonwealth Bank subsidiary could soon be subject to award regulation, following an AIRC decision confirming the FSU's representation rights.
No future in cutting wages and conditions, says AIG head; Fielding warns Howard not to erode conditions or make life harder for working families; ALP bill seeks to curb political advertising; Andrews says ACTU, ALP lying over holidays; Workforce participation of mature women up from 27% to 56% in 20 years; Disability pensioners double over 20 years; Federal parliamentarians setting the pace on pay; No need for fundamental IR change, says Keating; NZ incomes, employment and labour productivity went backwards after radical IR changes, says academic; and New job site for OHS specialists.
While confusion has reigned on the issue, the latest statement coming out of the office of Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews makes it clear that the Government will strip back award entitlements that exceed its proposed new minimum conditions.
Victoria's car industry is returning to normal production today after more than 100 workers at Icon Automotive's Huntingdale plant last night voted to end a strike and support a rescue plan negotiated in the AIRC.
Uncertainty continues over how awards will be affected under the second wave IR changes, with the Federal Government facing claims that thousands of workers will lose entitlements to overtime and penalty rates.
Regulation has failed to keep pace with the 16% annual growth of labour hire since 1990, according to a parliamentary inquiry that has called for new guidance to curb long hours and ensure breaks and new measures to make it easier for on-hire workers to obtain loans and take holidays.
AIRC Senior Deputy President Jennifer Acton today resumed hearing a s127 application against industrial action by the LHMU, AMWU and NUW over employee entitlements at stricken car parts maker Icon Automotive.
