Registered organisations page 219 of 220

Pilots union seeks rule change to cover Qantas subsidiary; & Thomson's lawyer says concessions a "fabrication"

The Toll Group and the TWU have reached an "in principle" agreement for the company's 10,000-strong workforce, delivering a potential pay increase of 15.25% over four years and a commitment to maintain employer super contributions at 3% above the statutory minimum.

The Coalition has largely succeeded in neutralising IR as a 2013 federal election issue by promising to retain – at least for one term – Labor's Fair Work framework, but Australia's two major parties are still going to the September 7 poll with some significant policy differences, including on paid parental leave, right of entry, and construction industry regulation. Workplace Express compares their IR policies and those of the Greens, whose future hold on the Senate balance of power is uncertain.

Opposition promises small business representation on FWC; and Chief Justice flags October hearing for High Court challenge.

Long-serving CEPU leader Peter Tighe has resigned, handing over the union's top job to his deputy, Allen Hicks.

O'Neill launches investigation into former TCFU branch; FWC fair hearings practice note commences; and Parham to deliver third workplace relations lecture series address.

Unions gained 6,000 members in the 12 months to August last year, but growth failed to keep pace with the size of the workforce, so density fell from 18.4% to 18.2% overall and from 13.2% to 13% in the private sector, according to the ABS.

The ALAEA says FWA has cleared the way for it to pursue its bid to change its rules to cover a new category of unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineers at Qantas, after a full bench today rejected an application for orders to stop it representing the workers.

Fair Work Building and Construction chief executive Leigh Johns has challenged those who say the inspectorate should have intervened in the Grocon Supreme Court proceedings to identify the powers it could have relied upon, while the main players are about to head back for more talks with FWA President, Justice Iain Ross.

Grocon Constructors has shown the Victorian Supreme Court graphic footage of CFMEU protesters pushing back police horses in Melbourne's CBD this morning in its successful bid to extend a ban on union officials coming within 50 metres of the Emporium site.