A full Federal Court has rejected Rio Tinto's argument that the enterprise agreement for one of its coal mines provides paid extended personal leave only on a discretionary basis.
The CFMEU and TCFU have confirmed they are well advanced in merger talks, as unions consolidate to meet structural changes in the Australian economy and to maintain critical mass.
The CFMEU is vicariously liable for a senior official's adverse action when he threatened to put a company out of business, the Federal Court has found.
BlueScope Steel says that steelmaking will continue in Port Kembla after "game-changing" cost savings of $200 million a year negotiated with employees, unions and the NSW Government.
The HSU has accused the Heydon Royal Commission of undermining its own credibility by treating former national secretary Kathy Jackson with "kid gloves".
The Heydon Royal Commission's counsel assisting has released submissions that argue that Sydney identity George Alex made cash payments to CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch organiser Darren Greenfield.
The CFMEU says it will seek a police investigation into the "leaking" of Heydon Royal Commission submissions that recommend that criminal charges be laid against the secretary and former president of its construction and general division's Queensland branch over the destruction of documents.
Federal Labor says it is ready to support the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement after securing "legally binding safeguards" requiring labour market testing, use of enterprise agreements as a reference point for 457 visa workers' salaries and a 90-day deadline on obtaining occupational or trades licences.
