Queensland's Palaszczuk Labor Government is struggling to sell a proposed 12-month freeze on a scheduled 2.5% wage increase to the unions representing the state's public sector workers.
The ABCC is investigating allegations that the CFMMEU pressured more than 100 NSW sub-contractors into signing up to a new three-year pattern agreement providing 5% annual pay rises and fixed rostered days off.
The NSW Government has taken off the table its offer of a $1000 "bonus" and job guarantee in lieu of a pay rise for frontline public servants, as it pursues the freeze in the NSW IRC, following a disallowance motion in the Upper House.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's plan for a dialogue with unions and employers over changes to workplace laws has sparked a scramble among stakeholders to get a seat at the table.
Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter will chair five working groups with the aim of producing a "practical reform" of the IR system to help grow jobs as the economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CFMMEU's court challenge to the COVID-19 reduction in notice periods for agreement changes opened this morning, with the union opposing IR Minister Christian Porter's bid to admit evidence on 30 recent variation applications, countering that he could deal with it by issuing a media release.
In a matter a judge has speculated could have "wide ramifications" regarding stand-downs, Qantas and Jetstar have won an injunction stopping the FWC from arbitrating a dispute concerning hundreds of engineers rendered idle by the pandemic.
Large numbers of retail employees covered by agreements approved in the second half of last year face wage freezes if employers succeed in their campaign for a coronavirus-driven pause in minimum pay rises such as that adopted during the GFC, new Attorney-General's Department data on bargained wage rises reveals.
National Rugby League referees have for the second time in two years found themselves before the FWC as they contest a decision to cut from two to one the number officiating games from the competition's planned re-start on May 28.
