The dispute at Victoria's Country Fire Authority is set to flare in coming weeks as the new CFA board considers whether to sign-off on a controversial enterprise agreement.
Business groups have to cooperate and overhaul their campaign tactics to match groups like GetUp and trade unions, according to Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott.
The re-elected Turnbull government will pursue changes to workplace laws covering union right of entry, according to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has rejected a Labor proposal to make a joint submission to the Fair Work Commission on the importance of maintaining penalty rates.
Victoria's United Firefighters Union is calling on members to endorse a contentious in-principle CFA enterprise agreement at a special meeting next week, while employment minister Senator Cash has expressed "concern" that the union is seeking a similar deal in Queensland.
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash will lead the push to re-establish the ABCC and to create a specialist regulator of unions, once the Federal parliament resumes on August 30.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Coalition will re-introduce the two Bills used to trigger the double dissolution election, in a bid to win their passage, but if they are rejected, "then a joint sitting can be held".
The union movement's targeted marginal seats campaign played an "absolutely critical" role in generating a dramatic swing to the Labor Party in Saturday's federal election, according to renowned political analyst Malcolm Mackerras.
The Coalition says it will put five workplace relations bills before the Federal Parliament if it is returned to office, but has flagged that it will not announce a full IR policy ahead of Saturday's election.
