The Democrats have caved in and passed the Howard Government's bill to prohibit union bargaining fees in enterprise agreements, while there have also been other important new legislative developments.
The Cole Royal Commission has called for a strict new entry system for the construction industry, with heavy penalties including disqualification of union officials and employees from holding union jobs.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet says the Cole Commission has made an unjustified attack on the rights of construction workers, and that unions will now work to have the foreshadowed Cole legislation defeated in the Senate.
The WA Supreme Court has slashed the amount of compensation won by a disabled worker who was discriminated against when an employer withdrew its offer of employment because he failed a medical test.
NSW manufacturing workers are back on the job after a 24-hour strike yesterday - which employers believe was a show of strength in the lead-up to Campaign 2003.
The Cole Royal Commission has recommended setting up a new building industry watchdog and legislating to outlaw pattern bargaining, restrict protected action and further simplify awards.
The Cole Royal Commission's scathing findings against construction industry players, particularly unions, in today's partial release of its findings, has prepared the ground for tomorrow's release, which will focus on reforming the industry.
A full bench of the AIRC has upheld an order for an employer to pay a former employee's travel expenses in attending his unfair dismissal hearings, despite finding he was not entitled to compensation.
The Cole Royal Commission has found that 23 union officials and eight employers or employer organisations might have committed criminal offences in the first findings of the Royal Commission, released today.
