Chicken Littles in the Howard Government and the business community should stop squawking and recognise that the casual conversion clauses in 29 federal and 37 state awards haven't made the sky fall in, according to Shadow Workplace Relations Minister, Craig Emerson.
Two-thirds of casuals are negative about their employment status and three-quarters would prefer to convert to permanent jobs, according to a new study released today, while other new research finds Australia has an internationally high level of casualisation that threatens to undermine overall employment conditions.
The LHMU (AEAV section) will end its high-level industrial action in the wake of this morning's decision by the AIRC to terminate its bargaining period with the Victorian Metropolitan Ambulance Service, but says it will continue with the bans and limitations in place since mid-June.
The newly-certified agreement struck between the SDA and KMart phases out junior rates, while the union expects next year's junior rates test case to be run by the ACTU will mop up remaining retailers that haven't yet axed junior rates.
A labour-hire worker at Patrick's Fisherman Islands stevedoring operation in Brisbane was not kept on by Skilled Engineering when it took over the maintenance contract for the site because of his role as a union delegate, the AIRC has found.
In a big blow for employers in WA's resources sector, the Federal Court has ruled today that AWAs don't displace the State right of entry regime and that authorised State union officials can enter sites regulated by AWAs and discuss issues with workers, as long as they don't disrupt work.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham went into AMWU territory today with a $25 million manufacturing package, but no policy announcement on the Free Trade Agreement with the USA.
The NSW Supreme Court has ruled that shares received by a managing director as repayment of income he loaned to his company didn't count towards the $200,000 remuneration cap for unfair contract claims under s106 of the State's IR Act.
In an embarrassment for the AWU, it is seeking ACTU endorsement of a proposed demarcation arrangement at Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore operations that has been drafted by the company's lawyers, Freehills.
