INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – AUSTRALIA

Double hit for Shorten on penalties

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Original article by Sid Maher, Joe Kelly, Mark Coultan, Paige Taylor
The Australian – Page: 1 : 17-May-16

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has ruled out introducing legislation to protect penalty rates if the Fair Work Commission rules that Sunday rates in sectors such as retailing and hospitality should be reduced. Shorten has reiterated his position that the Australian Labor Party will not oppose the FWC’s ruling, despite pressure from the Australian Greens and the union movement to take action to safeguard penalty rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ACTU, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION

Pressure on Shorten over penalty rates

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 16-May-16

The Fair Work Commission is likely wait until after the 2016 federal election to issue its ruling on weekend penalty rates. Unions have urged Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to introduce greater protection for employees who receive penalty rates, although the Australian Labor Party has previously indicated that it will not oppose the FWC’s ruling if it recommendations a reduction in Sunday penalty rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ACTU

Retailers break ranks on right to refuse shifts

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 12-May-16

Four retail industry bodies have made a joint submission to the Fair Work Commission’s review of penalty rates in which they argue that employees should be able to refuse working on Sunday shifts if weekend penalty rates are reduced. However, the Australian Industry Group and the Pharmacy Guild – which represent hospitality industry workers – have in turn argued that there should be no such right of refusal, as it is the same as working a Saturday shift.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, RETAIL COUNCIL LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, MASTER GROCERS’ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, THE PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES GROUP LIMITED, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN

It’s time to reignite growth

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Original article by Annabel Hepworth, David Swan
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 9-May-16

Business leaders say workplace reform, corporate taxes and economic stimulus are among the issues that need to be addressed during the 56-day federal election campaign. Andrew Harding, the head of Rio Tinto’s iron ore division, has stressed the need for policies that will promote economic growth, a view shared by Virgin Australia Holdings CEO John Borghetti. Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott also argues that measures to boost economic growth should be a priority, while the Australian Industry Group has emphasised the need for tax reform.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, OFX, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Penalty rates a poll bombshell

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Original article by Elizabeth Colman, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 21-Apr-16

The Fair Work Commission may issue its ruling on weekend penalty rates in the retail and hospitality industries before the 2016 federal election. Employers are seeking a reduction in the penalty rates that apply for working on Sundays and public holidays. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox says penalty rates will be the key industrial relations issue during the election campaign. He argues that the current regime deters employers from hiring and training staff.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, UNITED VOICE, TOURISM ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION

7-Eleven’s legal woes

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Original article by Sarah Danckert
The Age – Page: 24 : 7-Apr-16

Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that 7-Eleven franchisee Jim Chien-Ching Chang falsified payroll records and underpaid eight employees. One employee is said to be owed more than $A13,000 in unpaid wages, while the Ombudsman claims that none of Chang’s employees were paid shift worker allowances or weekend penalty rates. 7-Eleven employees have been paid about $A10m to date via a compensation scheme that was established in the wake of the wage exploitation scandal in 2015.

CORPORATES
7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, JS TOY PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Labor leaves low wage to tribunal

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Original article by Elizabeth Colman, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 4 : 1-Apr-16

The Australian Labor Party will not make a submission on the Fair Work Commission’s review of the minimum wage. Workplace relations spokesman Brendan O’Connor says Labor has confidence in the wage review process and believes that it will consider factors such as the rising cost of living. The ACTU is seeking a $A30 per week increase in the minimum wage. Employer groups have proposed a much lower increase, citing factors such as the uncertain economic outlook and Australia’s high minimum wage compared with some countries.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, UNITED VOICE, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Penalty rates ‘help lowest paid’

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Original article by Benjamin Preiss
The Age – Page: 3 : 14-Mar-16

The Victorian Government’s submission to a Fair Work Commission review of penalty rates in the hospitality and retail industries argues that many people on low incomes rely on penalty rates for basic household expenses. It also argues that penalty rates often cost companies less than expenses such as taxes and local council rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Coles slammed over pay rorts

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Original article by Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 4 : 10-Mar-16

Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James has criticised Coles for failing to ensure that supermarket trolley collectors employed by sub-contractors were being paid their full wages. She says large companies can expect to be held accountable for wage exploitation in all levels of the supply chain. The FWO has successfully prosecuted two trolley collection businesses that underpaid staff in Adelaide. Coles has also agreed to provide the employees with substantial back pay.

CORPORATES
COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, STARLINK OPERATIONS GROUP PTY LTD

Super union could ‘lock up the nation’

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 &4 : 29-Feb-16

Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch says a proposed merger between the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union and the Maritime Union of Australia could have significant implications for industrial relations. Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has also expressed concern about the merger’s potential impact on jobs, productivity and the economy. Meanwhile, MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin has flagged further merger with other unions if the deal with the CFMEU proceeds.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, AUSTRALIAN RAIL, TRAM AND BUS INDUSTRY UNION, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT UNION FEDERATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY