Agreements and bargaining page 48 of 176

The Perth-based newspaper group controlled by billionaire Kerry Stokes has locked out more than 100 printers for an indefinite period after they rejected a second bargaining offer.

The ACCC's recent heightened focus on the building industry might be bearing fruit, after the Federal Court found this week that the CFMMEU induced and had knowing involvement in major construction company J Hutchinson's unlawful boycott of a non-union waterproofing subcontractor, the Federal Court has ruled.

A finding that engaging Crown's Melbourne and Perth dealers to serve high rollers at its Sydney casino is not a transfer of business has paved the way for others to move workers without the "negative consequences of industrial instruments travelling with them", according to a leading employer-clientele lawyer.

Major tug boat operator Svitzer Australia has gained more time to prepare its application to suspend or terminate AMOU members' protected action, which is to due to start on Thursday.

Despite AWU objections, the FWC has approved an employer's greenfields civil construction deal with rival the CFMMEU, observing that the former's historic coverage of the sector did not guarantee a place at the negotiating table.

Victoria's Andrews Labor Government will employ 2000 additional public school teachers, reduce face-to-face teaching hours and boost pay by 2% a year under a four-year deal struck with the AEU, but in NSW unions are holding out for a 10% to 15% raise.

Patrick Terminals says the four-year in-principle agreement it has struck with the MUA removes "restrictive recruitment conditions", while delivering "other much-needed flexibilities" for its four container terminals, while the MUA says it has received "assurances" on job security and has won pay rises of 2.5% or CPI, whichever is greater.

The United Workers Union is claiming a "live update" ballot service prompted a major security company to send misleading text messages and direct managers to coerce workers into voting up a new agreement, in a wide-ranging bid to block the deal's approval in the FWC.

A court has today imposed fines of 90% of the maximum on the "rogue" construction union and 80% on its Queensland leader for failing to provide 24 hours notice before officials entered a construction site for bargaining discussions with workers, after the head contractor insisted they be held off-site.

Global fast food chain Nando's has told the FWC that it risked being left with a "confusing and cumbersome" pay structure for almost 2000 employees unless it succeeded in terminating a near-14-year-old deal with an "outdated" approach to penalty rates.