New ACTU secretary Sally McManus has defended her support for unionists to break "unjust laws", arguing the ability to strike is a "human right" and that Australia is out of step with international labour conventions.
Workers at spice giant McCormick Foods are commencing rolling strikes today as a call for a consumer boycott of iconic products such as Aeroplane Jelly and Keen's Mustard gains traction on social media.
The ACTU is asking the FWC for a $45 a week or 6.7% increase in the national minimum wage, as it begins a push under its fresh leadership to lift minimum rates towards a new benchmark against average weekly earnings.
A full Federal Court has upheld a procedural decision to strike out an amended statement of claim in dismissing CFMEU's appeal alleging BHP Coal took adverse action against miners when it engaged a contractor with a cheaper workforce.
FWC President Iain Ross has refused the NTEU's bid for a full bench to hear Murdoch University's request to terminate its enterprise agreement, which the union claims is a "test case" that will affect up to 20,000 Western Australian higher education employees.
The Federal Court has today imposed $1,300 individual fines on more than 50 construction workers who took unprotected industrial action to attend a rally at Perth's children's hospital project in 2013, while it has thrown out an ABCC adverse action case against the CFMEU construction and general division's ACT branch and officials.
The ETU has referred ACCC chair Rod Sims to the public service watchdog, claiming he breached his duty to remain impartial when he publicly backed former WA premier Colin Barnett's plans to privatise the state's electricity supplier in the lead-up to this month's election.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has belatedly confirmed his support for the Fair Work Commission's decision to cut Sunday penalty rates, representing his position as consistent with the Liberals' "backing" of small business.
