PM John Howard has rejected a call by the "gang of 20" to establish a wide-ranging inquiry to develop options for further IR change. However, he confirmed the Government is planning to use the corporations power to extend the reach of the federal IR system.
After a long and hard-fought campaign, unions and asbestos groups have today signed a Heads of Agreement with James Hardie that will provide uncapped funding to asbestos victims for at least 40 years.
Wesfarmers decision delayed – again; Employers can't be forced to negotiate State agreements, says Queensland IRC; Process worker who used chicken as a football refused reinstatement; Childcare rebate brought forward; and Tourism Australia employees vote down non-union deal.
Queensland businesses employing fewer than 15 employees will continue to be exempted from severance pay obligations, after a State IRC full bench rejected unions' bid to introduce a level playing field.
In a blow to the Building Industry Taskforce, the Federal Court has thrown out its claim that a head contractor terminated the contract of a subcontractor because he failed to join the CFMEU. The court said that the Taskforce's case faced "apparently insurmountable difficulties".
A cafe has been ordered to pay $2,500 in damages for discriminating against a 46-year-old chef who responded to a job advertisement that sought an employee to join a "young team".
ANZ increases paid parental leave to 12 weeks; Electrolux legislation gets Royal Assent; Victorian OHS legislation passes; New leaders for Unions Tasmania and Unions WA; Counsel moving digs; 18,000 AWAs registered in November; and Andrews questions salary sacrificing in matters pertaining test case.
Qantas has struck an in-principle three-year deal with the ASU that pays a 3% annual wage increase to some 10,500 employees, while NUW members have voted down their proposed new deal with the airline.
Both employer bodies and unions will argue that salary packaging pertains to the employment relationship when an AIRC full bench in Adelaide next Monday and Tuesday hears a crucial test case on what can be included in enterprise agreements.
We're not IR extremists, says PM; Wesfarmers delayed until next week; Victoria to seek broad definition of matters pertaining in next week's test case; Today marks centenary of Conciliation and Arbitration Act; $26m payout to former Ansett workers; and AIRC full bench overturns reinstatement of DEWR employee sacked for credit card fraud.
