Dual state and federal IR laws are “not a major handicap” to labour productivity and don’t provide justification for the Federal Government to urgently legislate for a hostile takeover of state systems, Sydney University Dean of Law Ron McCallum told the NSW IR Society Conference in the Blue Mountains today.
The Federal Government may be pushing the virtues of individual and enterprise-based bargaining, but one of Australia's major road transport players, Patrick Corporation, is exploring the option of reverting from site-by-site bargaining to a single national transport deal with the TWU.
A Federal Court full bench has found the AIRC has the power to direct Sensis to allow employees to be represented by a union in bargaining negotiations for a s170LK non-union deal, while two judges have described the employer’s case as “much ado about very little”.
More than 15,000 childcare workers in Victoria and ACT will on July 1 begin receiving what for many will be the first increment of a significant pay increase, after the AIRC yesterday finalised details of the work value decision it delivered in January.
Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews, the ACCI and the ACTU have confirmed they will make written submissions to the AIRC's safety net adjustment full bench next Tuesday – and each of them will argue this week's Budget supports their respective positions.
South Australian employees have won the right to significantly increased redundancy entitlements under a deal between SA Unions and Business SA, which was approved yesterday by a full bench of the State IRC.
Paid maternity leave up from four weeks to 12 for SA public servants; Private sector workers in ACT win access to pro rata long service leave after seven years; Victorian police officer allowed to proceed with sexual harassmnent case; and no discrimination against worker refused permission to hold prayer meeting at work.
The AIRC/AIR is rationalising the space it occupies at its 80 William St, East Sydney premises and refurbishing the remaining area, after signing a new 10-year lease.
