Today
Lawyer denies claim of ‘astonishing’ fee quote in ex-CFMEU boss case
Mid-tier firm Mills Oakley and criminal law outfit McGirr & Associates have been criticised for “grossly excessive” legal fees for a corruption case that hasn’t progressed in four years.
Yesterday
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Worker consultation overhaul risks ‘sabotaging’ management
The Fair Work Commission has flagged worker rights to intervene early on changes to the workplace, prompting warnings it would put emerging technology in “shackles”.
This Month
- Exclusive
- AI
A worker said one negative word to a customer. AI dobbed him in
A new report on AI’s effect on jobs in the finance industry found “sentiment bots” were analysing worker conversations with customers.
- Updated
- Exclusive
- Gig economy
Uber fury at Labor bid to expand gig economy laws
The NSW government’s push to bring in its own laws to set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers, going even further than federal Labor, has sparked a scathing response from gig platforms.
Inside the fight over McDonald’s 100,000 low-paid worker army
Crew trainer Connor Boyle is part of a test case to extend multi-employer bargaining laws to the types of workforces unions have always struggled to organise.
CFMEU administrator launches ‘culture of violence’ probe in Queensland
CFMEU state officials will be forced to co-operate with an inquiry into violence and menacing conduct that was allegedly perpetuated by the union’s past leadership.
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
CFMEU redundancy fund ‘misuse’ of worker money sparks regulation call
Regulation of the vast redundancy fund sector could be an election issue, following claims a CFMEU fund unlawfully took workers’ money and gave it to the union.
- Updated
Review into IR laws backs abolition of watchdog despite CFMEU threats
Employers “cannot fathom” how a review into Labor’s scrapping of the ABCC found no need to revive it after widespread reports of intimidation.
CFMEU organiser’s ute firebombed
A CFMEU organiser’s union car was firebombed in the middle of the night just three months after his house was vandalised with the words ‘CFMEU dog’.
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Builders push for limits on CFMEU wage-bargaining powers
Civil contractors are starting to lobby all sides of politics on reforming the construction industry, which could curb the CFMEU’s dominance of government projects.
January
Change to small wage theft claims could prompt ‘go away money’ surge
A departmental recommendation that employers pay workers’ legal costs if they lose underpayment cases of up to $100,000 has sparked business fears.
Luxury island retreat underpaid staff by more than $20m
The operators of Hamilton Island’s leisure facilities have agreed to backpay thousands of employees, admitting to almost a decade of underpayment.
Is this the end of the ‘smoko’ break?
A Kmart boss says fewer people smoke these days so the mid-morning break is less important. Unions accuse the retailer of trying to kill off an Aussie tradition.
Assault on retail penalty rates may spread to other jobs: ACTU
A major push to simplify the retail award, backed by Coles, Woolworths, 7-Eleven and Mecca, has sparked union fears of a broader attack on penalty rates.
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Overtime rates for retail workers could be axed in employer push
Major supermarkets and other retailers have joined a case to exempt senior staff from award conditions, waive “outdated” smoko breaks and allow split shifts.
More disruption warning after strikes cause flight delays
Stoppages by 1000 baggage handlers caused hours of delays to international flights at Sydney Airport, with the union threatening further action.
- Updated
Path cleared for wantaway division to divorce ‘toxic’ CFMEU
Fair Work Commission approves a poll of 10,000 manufacturing division members on splitting from the broader union.
Unions want ‘same-looking job, same pay’: BHP
BHP lawyers have urged the umpire to adopt a “big picture” approach to exemptions from same job, same pay laws for the company’s labour hire firms.
Arbitration won’t change psychiatrists’ resignation plans: union
The workplace umpire’s urgent intervention has failed to stop the threat of a mass exit of doctors that could deplete the NSW hospitals’ workforce by a third.
- Exclusive
- White collar crime
Virtical boss may have acted as shadow director after resigning
Administrators say John Palasty controlled key accounts and operations despite resigning from the company that owned Hotel Australasia and a luxury resort project.