This Month
Cybercriminals impersonated super executives in week of mass breach
The attacks occurred in the same week hackers compromised the largest funds and siphoned retirement savings out of member accounts.
No repeal, but Coalition open to changing ‘same job same pay’ laws
A Dutton government would assess changes to Labor’s laws as part of a review originally agreed to by the Albanese government, even as Peter Dutton ruled out repealing the legislation.
Dutton rules out axing ‘same job, same pay’ laws
Business groups have condemned Labor’s IR changes but have stopped short of criticising the opposition leader for saying he will not repeal them.
A Trump-proof Australia needs productive industrial relations
The lack of a real election contest over greater workplace flexibility will condemn Australia to lower productivity and leave the nation less protected.
March
CFMEU is still Building Bad nine months later
New reports of criminal activity underline how inadequate the measures taken have been to stamp out illegal CFMEU-linked behaviour.
CFMEU asks court for more powers despite crackdown
The CFMEU has challenged new limits to its delegates powers, including making them subject to “reasonable employer policies” and a prohibition on obstructing work.
Labor must be straight with voters: Kelty
Economic trailblazer Bill Kelty says the government should acknowledge that people are worse off than three years ago, as Labor makes contingency plans for a May election.
‘Oh, the irony’: Bosses chide Maurice Blackburn for lawyer shutout
Employers have seized on the union-aligned law firm’s shut out of its workers in response to a historic billing ban as justification for lockout powers in IR disputes.
CFMEU to campaign against Dutton despite Labor administration
Despite being under administration, a senior CFMEU officer has told members the union will campaign against Peter Dutton’s threat to deregister the union if elected.
ACTU targets blue-collar seats to protect Labor, defend IR gains
Unions will marshal thousands of activists to shore up Labor’s blue-collar vote in dozens of at-risk regional and outer-suburban seats.
February
Union officials appointed to steer Fair Work under Labor laws
The Albanese government has appointed four more union-aligned officials to the workplace tribunal as it gears up for the federal election.
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.
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.
December 2024
Union warns it might back Greens as CFMEU goes to the High Court
Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said the Greens had been on “the right side of history” on union issues.
The secret sting in the union membership surge under Labor
A union membership increase bucking a decade of decline is entirely due to public sector growth, concealing a new low in the private sector.
Union growth is back under Labor after a decade of decline
The ACTU says a return to collective bargaining under the Albanese government has helped unions increase their membership to 13 per cent of the workforce.
ACTU pushes for Labor to expand WFH rights
The ACTU is pushing to expand workers’ rights to challenge work-from-home refusals and raise the threshold for bosses to reject them.
October 2024
Mining union boss dismisses ‘blue-collar threat’ to ACTU
MEU president Tony Maher lashed the blue-collar union breakaway and condemned attacks on ACTU secretary Sally McManus that he said had led to death threats.
Greens join push to scrap junior worker pay rates
The Greens would push a second term minority Albanese government to abolish lower rates of pay for young workers in retail, fast food and pharmacy.
September 2024
The unassuming senator with Labor’s fortunes on his shoulders
Queensland is at the centre of two crucial elections in the coming months, and the personable Murray Watt might be the bridge builder who helps tip things for the ALP.