Protracted negotiations over oil and gas agreements in the Bass Strait have moved a step closer to arbitration following the Victorian Government's application to terminate bargaining in the face of looming strike action.
The MUA's national council has stared down Coalition threats to stymie its merger with the CFMEU, endorsing the plan to create an "activist, campaigning" combined entity by the middle of next year.
The AMWU is seeking to change its rules so it can recruit independent contractors, while it is "re-thinking" how to tailor its membership packages to meet their needs.
The AMWU will gather in Sydney next week to consider major structural changes and a renewed membership drive targeting motor mechanics and those in manufacturing front office roles.
AGL has sought to increase pressure on unions over stalled bargaining at Victoria's Loy Yang power station and coal mine by applying for the Fair Work Commission to terminate the existing agreement.
The CFMEU has lost an appeal to have secondary boycott proceedings over alleged bans on Boral delayed until after the hearing of blackmail charges against union leaders John Setka and Shaun Reardon.
Union members are targeting official Carlton & United Breweries' Facebook pages with a series of critical posts as part of an ongoing campaign over the sacking of maintenance workers at CUB's main Victorian brewery.
The union movement's targeted marginal seats campaign played an "absolutely critical" role in generating a dramatic swing to the Labor Party in Saturday's federal election, according to renowned political analyst Malcolm Mackerras.
The NUW and MEAA are among the first unions to change their rules to accept no or low-fee community and associate members since the ACTU's call to transform their membership models by adopting "radical thinking".
