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More disputes are brewing over plans to replace Australian seafarers on coastal trading ships with cheaper overseas vessels and crew.

Making a project manager redundant after granting his request to be transferred to a less secure position did not constitute adverse action as the new role was better for his mental health and the employer's decision was based on his competence, qualifications, tenure and a business downturn, a court has found.

The AMWU is experiencing membership losses that threaten its future, according to a confidential review of the union led by former ACTU secretary Greg Combet.

Prior employee misconduct that did not result in dismissal but demonstrates a "pattern of unacceptable behaviour" must be considered when determining unfair dismissal cases, a Fair Work Commission full bench has ruled.

The AWU is calling for the corporate regulator to investigate whether Queensland Nickel breached corporations laws and whether owner Clive Palmer is acting as a "shadow director", as part of the union's push to secure members' outstanding entitlements.

The Productivity Commission, in its final report on the IR system today, says the FWC should be broken up into two bodies, with the new institution to determine minimum wages and awards.

A construction company - which came to the attention of the Heydon Royal Commission for paying AWU membership fees on behalf of employees, even if they were not members - has been ordered to pay $1.3 million in damages after admitting it failed to prevent a female labourer being s-xually harassed and bullied by her workmates.

The ATO's sacking of a debt collection manager with almost 30-years' service has been upheld by the FWC after it found her failure to lodge personal tax returns over four consecutive years amounted to serious misconduct that warranted dismissal.

The Federal Court has this morning ordered former HSU national secretary Craig Thomson to pay about $458,000 in compensation and fines for inappropriate spending during his reign.

An employee who threatened to "go postal" in the workplace was unfairly dismissed, because he was mentally unwell, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.