The Federal Court has overturned a ruling by the Federal Circuit Court that paint manufacturer Wattyl did not breach its enterprise agreement when it directed employees to take annual leave during a production scale-down in 2012.
The ACTU has fired the first shot in the royal commission into union corruption, finance and governance by telling the inquiry chief Dyson Heydon that it wants a ban on selective leaking of evidence to the media before hearings.
Conservative state governments and employer groups have warned the Fair Work Commission that this year's increase in minimum wages needs to be modest to avoid hurting employment.
The Federal Court has held that the Fair Work Commission can't refuse to approve agreements because they would undermine collective bargaining, in the latest ruling on the John Holland deal covering just three workers.
The Coalition has warned public servants there will be "minimal capacity for wage increases" in bargaining to replace 114 enterprise agreements covering 165,000 employees that are due to expire on June 30.
Former HSU East secretary Michael Williamson will spend a minimum of five years behind bars after being sentenced today for defrauding the union of nearly $1 million.
The Coalition has added the former Labor government's legislation extending Australia's migration zone to cover all offshore resources activity to the "red tape" it is targeting for repeal.
In dismissing corporate director Kate Shea's general protections case against EnergyAustralia, the Federal Court has ruled that employment complaints must be based on genuinely-held grievances and not made for an ulterior purpose if they are to form the basis of a workplace right.
MUA WA branch assistant secretary Will Tracey has lost his challenge to the Fair Work Commission's decision last year to refuse him a federal entry permit because he didn't meet the "fit and proper person" test.
