This Month
- 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.
- David Marin-Guzman
Fortescue heart-to-hearts make unionisation redundant: Forrest
Chairman Andrew Forrest reckons his staff are unlikely to unionise, as workplace reforms bring unions back into the nation’s most lucrative export industry.
- Primrose Riordan and Mark Wembridge
Homesick FIFO workers earning $190k stir talk of Pilbara unionisation
Sweeping industrial relations changes have inflamed fears among miners that the Pilbara will revert to its recalcitrant past. Unions want a seat at the table in the resource-rich region.
- Mark Wembridge and Tom Rabe
January
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.
- David Marin-Guzman
Bain sweats on FIRB approval before naming new Virgin CEO
The airline’s private equity owners are hoping to avoid a political stoush before an election, with the favoured candidate opposed by powerful unions.
- Ayesha de Kretser
December 2024
Sacked Qantas workers win record $120m compensation payout
The Transport Workers Union has won compensation for 1700 baggage handlers and ground workers more than four years after they were illegally sacked.
- Ayesha de Kretser
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.
- Updated
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Australian Council of Trade Unions
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.
- David Marin-Guzman
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.
- David Marin-Guzman and Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Queensland votes
Labor paid $30m to union-backed bodies in dying hours of Qld rule
Despite promising the money as part of its re-election bid, the state government paid it to union-backed training organisations a day before entering caretaker mode.
- David Marin-Guzman and James Hall
Breakthrough in crippling dispute holding up housing, roads for months
One of the most damaging industrial actions in the country may come to a stop after Ausgrid power workers ended four months of work bans after striking a deal.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Updated
- Aviation
Union demands CEO veto in exchange for supporting Virgin’s Qatar deal
The powerful Transport Workers Union is concerned that a former Qantas executive involved in the illegal sacking of staff is the frontrunner for the top job.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser
November 2024
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
How CFMEU wields control of a $1.2b workers’ redundancy fund
The chief executive of Incolink warned an employer group that the union could deprive it of tens of millions of dollars if they did not agree to demands.
- David Marin-Guzman
Fears that $10b in building sites will grind to a halt on Tuesday
The Electrical Trades Union visited Lendlease, Multiplex and Mirvac sites to urge workers to attend an industry rally protesting the CFMEU administration.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
Rogue CFMEU protesters defy administrator’s warning over walkout
CFMEU protesters in NSW have rejected warnings that they will face consequences if they attend a mass rally next week against the administration.
- David Marin-Guzman
October 2024
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Grill’d accused of shonky wage deal
The national burger chain has found a new loophole to pay thousands of workers below minimum industry rates, the fast-food workers’ union has claimed.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Building Bad
Rebel unions threaten to fund independent candidates to challenge Labor
The exiled CFMEU leadership is planning more mass walkouts of construction workers, as blue-collar unionists consider changes to future political funding.
- David Marin-Guzman and Gus McCubbing
Sally McManus has two black belts, but lives at risk of CFMEU fallout
The ACTU secretary has been forced to live in different places and vary her routine due to security concerns arising from the crackdown on the union.
- David Marin-Guzman
Union finds buyer for the boss’ subsidised McMansion
The $2 million sale is decent, but it does raise the question: would union dues have been better served elsewhere?
- Max Mason
September 2024
Qube sues own employees for damages for blocking ship services
A wage dispute between logistics group Qube and wharfies in Melbourne has escalated after the company sued more than 20 union members.
- Jenny Wiggins and David Marin-Guzman