Six weeks paid maternity leave for Starwood hotel workers; ATO workers win permanency; Employers barred from sacking workers absent on emergency services duties; AIRC in time warp, says NSW Labor Council; Remuneration cap for dismissals now $85,400; States and ACTU fund new trade union training body; and new heads for the Remuneration Tribunal and WA EOC.
Telstra was today fighting for the right to go ahead unfettered with planned job reductions, following this week's landmark ruling on the powers conferred on the AIRC by dispute resolution clauses in certified agreements.
A Government-dominated Federal Parliamentary Committee has begun an inquiry into lifting levels of participation in the labour force as the population ages.
Legislation introduced to Parliament by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott creates a new contempt offence for defying an AIRC order and provides for offenders to be jailed for up to 12 months.
The AMWU and AiG are at odds over the success of this morning's four-hour stoppage in Victoria, with the union claiming it as another Campaign 2003 milestone, and the employer group estimating only 5% of affected workers went out.
In an important test case on the reach of federal right of entry laws, a full bench of the AIRC has today reserved its decision on whether they cover the field in NSW.
The MEAA has flagged a comeback for the carrier pigeon, after an AIRC full bench found Channel Seven wasn't required to give union delegates access to the company's email system.
Craig Emerson has today taken over the shadow workplace relations portfolio from Robert McClelland, after Federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean reshuffled his front bench.
CFMEU construction and general division national secretary John Sutton has this afternoon expressed "deep regret" at his actions on the Morris McMahon picket in May this year, while the NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating an incident involving Sutton at the site.
