Business groups have to cooperate and overhaul their campaign tactics to match groups like GetUp and trade unions, according to Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott.
Australia's second-biggest union, the SDA, has dropped its long-held policy of opposing same-sex marriage, as national secretary Gerard Dwyer looks to concentrate on core workplace issues.
Coles has alleged the NUW is engaged in unlawful pickets at "contingency sites" established to distribute food to its Victorian stores after the start of indefinite strike at a key distribution centre.
The CFMEU has lost an appeal to have secondary boycott proceedings over alleged bans on Boral delayed until after the hearing of blackmail charges against union leaders John Setka and Shaun Reardon.
The union movement's targeted marginal seats campaign played an "absolutely critical" role in generating a dramatic swing to the Labor Party in Saturday's federal election, according to renowned political analyst Malcolm Mackerras.
The NUW and MEAA are among the first unions to change their rules to accept no or low-fee community and associate members since the ACTU's call to transform their membership models by adopting "radical thinking".
The CFMEU construction and general division's NSW branch has announced a green ban on a proposed $38 million redevelopment of the Bondi Pavilion in what it says is a bid to maintain it as a publicly-owned community facility.
Two weeks into the federal election campaign, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for the re-introduction of statutory individual agreements and the removal of all content except wage rates from modern awards.
ACTU television commercial highlights penalty rates, internships; New executive director for HR Nicholls Society; Alleged ISIS-sympathiser's dismissal case in FWC tomorrow; FWBC warns of fines for construction workers attending CFMEU mass meeting "without permission"; Re-run for botched Federal Police union election; "Unfinished business" in quest for safe rates, TWU council hears; and Sharing economy" a misnomer, TWU forum hears.
Reducing penalty rates, increasing rostering flexibility and boosting the ability of employers to make agreements directly with employees are at the top of employer groups' IR wishlists for the July 2 federal election.
