Australia's federal unfair dismissal laws might be 11 years old, but their constitutionality could become an issue if the ALP states decide to square up to the Federal Government on IR, according to a Sydney barrister.
Long-time industrial barrister Steve Rothman, SC, has been appointed to the NSW Supreme Court by the Carr Government, while Attorney-General Bob Debus is expected to announce the State's new Chief Industrial Magistrate within days.
Construction employers in Victoria will meet tomorrow morning to determine whether a compromise reached with the CFMEU on a double-time provision in the new in-principle industry deal is enough to clear the way for the signing-up process to begin.
The Victorian mushroom farm the AWU took to court for allegedly sacking workers for refusing to sign its AWAs has now had those same AWAs rejected by the OEA.
The Federal Court has today ordered major construction company Barclay Mowlem to pay a $6,000 penalty for failing to accept a contractor's tender because it had engaged non-union workers under AWAs.
About 80,000 Coles Supermarkets and Bi-Lo employees have won a 10.45% pay rise over three years and up to two years unpaid parental leave under a new enterprise agreement up for certification today, while Coles Myers' liquor group employees have won an 11.8% pay rise over three years under a separate deal.
