This Month
Union suggests Labor laws could reverse past penalty rate cuts
The Albanese government’s promised laws would “negate” any decisions to remove or reduce penalty rates, unions warn.
Chalmers pushes back on union demands to regulate AI at work
The treasurer’s stance, which aligns more with business than the unions, precedes the productivity roundtable he will convene in August.
Unions will push AI regulation and pay at productivity summit
White-collar groups want protections for workers disrupted by artificial intelligence while blue-collar ones are seeking wage rises through productivity boosts.
Powerful union puts Dorinda Cox on notice over Labor’s gas agenda
Anthony Albanese’s move to recruit Greens defector Dorinda Cox has angered sections of the West Australian Labor Party.
Tim Ayres is wrong. Unions should not control AI use in workplaces
The idea that trade unions should be able to exercise some sort of veto over the use of artificial intelligence is retrograde and risks Australia falling behind the rest of the world.
Are Labor’s industrial relations summits a union power grab?
The last time Labor held an “open dialogue” summit, it was merely a front for the ACTU to have the government endorse its legislative agenda.
May
CFMEU’s power base threatened as membership plunges
Leaked data shows membership in the construction union’s second-biggest branch has fallen by almost 17 per cent in the year to March.
Aussie big tech unionisation a sign of AI times
The tech sector is confronting its Frankenstein moment: the very workers who brought AI to life are now trying to survive it before it turns on them.
Canva, Atlassian employees flock to unions amid AI job fears
Workers’ fears about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence bots has led to a surge in union membership at Australia’s two highest-profile tech companies.
Westpac has already cut jobs in these key divisions
A former Westpac staff member reveals where redundancies have already been made, while the union says it is “greatly concerned” about extra cuts.
Qantas pleads for mercy as court questions Goyder’s claims
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee says Qantas claims that it had sound commercial reasons to outsource workers does not change the fact it acted illegally.
CFMEU administrator takes over ACT after membership dive
The CFMEU’s ACT branch has been placed into full administration and its secretary demoted in a shock move responding to a sharp fall in membership.
April
Absent union leader on $170k taken off paid leave
The wharfies union has taken Queensland boss Jason Miners off unlimited paid personal leave.
Former CFMEU leaders plead guilty to corruption
The former heads of the union’s NSW branch have admitted to taking thousands of dollars in bribes from an employer in return for preferential union treatment.
Home games: a Socceroo, a subdivision and the unpaid super
A struggling plan to bankroll an A-League club with an ambitious residential development is emblematic of the financial challenges facing Australian soccer.
Union leader on paid leave from $170k job accused of substance abuse
A senior maritime union official, who has been absent from his leadership role for much of the past 12 months, is facing allegations of substance abuse and supplying ice to a teenager.
Let’s demystify the landmark gender pay cap case
Undervaluing women’s work is partly related to the historical inertia of Australia’s highly regulated wage system.
Ruling to raise gender pay could cost other workers $300 a week
The Australian Services Union will challenge a Fair Work Commission decision due to concerns it perversely sends thousands of social workers’ pay backwards.
Burger chain burnt over pay rise amounting to 77¢ a week
The ruling is a key victory for unions and could lead to Grill’d being forced to pay more than 4000 workers full penalty rates for the first time in years.
CFMEU bribery case breakthrough: leaders flag possible guilty pleas
The lawyer for Darren and Michael Greenfield told a court there had been a “resolution” to the long-running case alleging they took bribes from a construction company.