Expanding on its theme that the wages system is "broken", the ACTU will seek to change workplace laws so workers and unions can bargain "where the power is" across industries and franchised employers, rather than being limited to the enterprise level.
An FWC full bench has found the tribunal lacked the power to settle a rostering dispute between the CFMEU and an underground coal mine because the enterprise agreement called for both parties to concur on how the matter should proceed.
The ABCC has revealed that another three builders face temporary bans on being allowed to bid for Commonwealth-funded construction projects as the Turnbull Government takes a tougher stance on breaches of the new national construction code.
The FWC has thrown out an employer's argument that a "wide view" of the Fair Work Act allowed it to make four safety officers working on the Gorgon LNG project redundant when they refused to accept a 13% pay cut.
Former ACTU secretary and Labor Minister Greg Combet has fired down his first bouncer as advisor to Australian cricketers in their pay dispute, accusing Cricket Australia chairman and former Rio Tinto chief David Peever of "dismissing out of hand" attempts to bring in a mediator.
The FWC has called on employers to introduce a greater range of disciplinary options like fines and unpaid suspensions into agreements to avoid "inappropriately lenient or inappropriately harsh" responses to misconduct that are problematic for all parties concerned.
A proposed agreement struck with three maintenance workers prior to securing a major mining contract is back on the table after an FWC full bench overturned its rejection, finding its terms only required workers to perform preparatory duties in connection with the project to be covered by it.
A Senate inquiry has recommended passage of a bill that scraps mandatory four-yearly award review and has backed the FWC's proposal to backdate provisions allowing the tribunal to correct minor errors in bargaining notices.
An FWC full bench will next month deal with an attempt by the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union to intervene in a bid to terminate the 2011 Coles Supermarkets agreement, before a 10-day hearing of the substantive case in October.
