This Month
The surprise pay rise tucked away in minimum wage ruling
Employer groups have reacted with alarm to the Fair Work Commission’s proposal, which was buried inside the 63-page minimum wage decision.
Female lawyers may be in line for a big pay rise
Graduate lawyers, academics, actors, architects and book editors are next in line for potentially significant gender pay rises following the minimum wage decision.
May
‘Tough decision’: CFMEU national boss steps down in shock move
Zach Smith, one of the last elected leaders at the union, has stepped down, saying he won’t take responsibility for decisions “that are not mine”.
Minimum wage increases above 3pc flagged as ‘sustainable’
But high labour costs could pose an inflation risk if productivity doesn’t rise, the Albanese government has conceded.
Labor plays down ‘small shock’ from Trump tariffs on minimum wage rise
NSW and federal governments say the trade levies won’t stop the economic turnaround as they push for an above-inflation wage increase.
How business needs to push Labor on growth
After being bashed up by Labor and the Coalition, the key to reviving living standards lies in business being prepared to invest in growth.
April
uComms (kind of) collapses, owing hundreds of thousands of dollars tax
The controversial polling firm, which has worked for Climate 200 and others, sold its brand and assets to a company that was half-owned by its founder.
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.