One of Australia’s leading employer advocates both nationally and internationally, Bryan Noakes, died on Tuesday at the age of 89 after years of ill-health.
New RTBU national secretary Mark Diamond will tonight use his national council dinner speech to signal a more militant approach to industrial action under his leadership, promising employers that "if you do not respect us, you will fear us".
The United Workers Union that is set to emerge from the amalgamation of United Voice and the NUW will have a "radical" structure that does away with state branches and instead adopts internal union "electorates" and sectoral organising.
The AWU is developing a "strategic alliance" with the TWU and the SDA to cover the agricultural supply chain, aiming to build density while curbing worker exploitation.
After 17 years as leader of Together Queensland and its predecessor the QPSU, Alex Scott is facing a challenge from his deputy Irene Monro, who along with a former deputy has been seeking answers as to why some employees' and officials' emails had allegedly been systematically monitored by the union before and after a 2015 merger.
A gathering in Melbourne yesterday to celebrate the life of employer advocate George Polites heard tributes from IR Minister Kelly O'Dwyer and Hancock committee chair Keith Hancock.
Former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty has led tributes to union leader Laurie Carmichael as a key contributor to the 38-hour working week, the Accord with the Hawke and Keating Labor governments, universal superannuation and Medicare.
The HSU's efforts to rebuild after a series of scandals appear to be gaining traction, with the union confirming almost all state branch leadership positions will be returned unopposed except for SA, where members are challenging its entire management committee.
The CFMMEU's mining and energy division has accelerated its shift to communicating with members via electronic channels, after ceasing publication of its almost century-old journal, Common Cause.
Global resources giant Rio Tinto, after its recent rapprochement with unions, is "the largest and most comprehensive example" of why it makes sense to bargain with employees' representatives, according to mining union leader Tony Maher.