This Month
Deposed CFMEU official rallies union to vote for Dutton
The Coalition’s promise to deregister the union’s construction division isn’t enough to stop this CFMEU powerbroker preferencing Labor last.
Maurice Blackburn strikes deal with staff after 12-month stand-off
The workers’ rights law firm has reached a deal with staff, which includes pay rises of up to 12.5 per cent over three years.
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.
Fourfold rise in union visits at BHP’s Pilbara mines is not helping wages
It is amazing how quickly a summit about the workforce reveals the chasm between government and big business. BHP’s Pilbara mines are a great example.
March
Judge slams CFMEU administrator for resisting coercion probe
A CFMEU official allegedly threatened one owner on the Monash Freeway project that he would take his soul and rip his head off.
Mining’s promising future could come under union siege
At the heart of any Labor government lies the obligation to serve the interests of their parent company, the union movement, before the national interest.
Dutton’s seat a target in $2m union war against nuclear
The campaign in a dozen key seats across the east coast is one of the most significant union spends in the federal election.
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.
Rio boosts travel, training perks as Pilbara union war heats up
Workers at Rio Tinto operations in the WA mining zone are being offered increased benefits, just as unions try to convince them they need organised representation.
Energy transition warning as militant union wins access to key project
A significant court ruling extends ETU influence on key green energy projects which industry players warn could result in costs “going through the roof”.
Coles, RBA warning on push to guarantee Armaguard jobs
Major banks and supermarkets are warning the workplace umpire’s intervention into crisis talks to fund the cash-in-transit business would have far-reaching effects for commercial deals and competition.
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
‘What did you achieve last week?’ Musk ups pressure on federal workers
It is unclear what legal basis the head of DOGE has to terminate federal workers if they fail to respond to his email request about what they did last week.
Why the union campaign about the end of retail ‘smoko’ breaks is misleading
What has been proposed is that a voluntary salary absorption option would allow employees at higher classification levels to choose a permanent salary that includes compensation for overtime and penalty rates.
Sydney train strikes banned – at least until July
Rail unions have lost a crucial case in the Fair Work Commission, which suspended strikes to end public recriminations in the long-running pay dispute
Ex-CFMEU officials delay corruption case until after High Court ruling
Despite expectations that he would enter a plea, ousted union boss Darren Greenfield has secured another delay in the four-year bribery case.
Essendon Fields Airport secures $15m investment
US-based aircraft manufacturer Textron will double the capacity at the airport; Chris Minns “not giving in” to union’s “blackmail”. How the day unfolded.
Bizarre new era of industrial relations must be unwound
State-sponsored and third-party interference threatens to kill workplace productivity and prosperity. Here are eight ways to fix the situation.
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.
Virgin rules out CEO frontrunner after Labor criticisms
Paul Jones was shaping up as the likely replacement for Jayne Hrdlicka. Not everyone was happy to hear he was heading for the top job.