Australian workers' right to be paid a decent wage for working unsociable hours has been reinforced with the Fair Work Commission today comprehensively rejecting an employer push to scrap penalty rates. 
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The Government has announced some long overdue improvements to the 457 visa program. Full details are not yet finalised but changes reflect issues unions have been identifying for a number of years, and more recently, in the collective involvement on the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration of which the CEPU, ACTU, CFMEU, and AMWU are on the Council. 
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In a move the ETU National Office says will deliver peace of mind to members across the country, the ETU’s Victorian Branch Secretary has undertaken to destroy any national mailing list of ETU members to which he had access.  
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Peter Tighe has written a letter to ETU members in response to the disappointing Victorian newsletter sent by Dean Mighell, the Secretary of the ETU Victoria Division, earlier this month. 
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The ACTU has conducted a poll on what Australians want the government to do about the continuing presence of asbestos in homes and schools. Two-thirds of the respondents to the poll believe the Government should aim to remove all asbestos from homes and schools by 2030.  
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There has been a lot of media over the last few days about overseas skilled labour.   
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The Paid Parental Leave and Other Legislation Amendment (Dad and Partner Pay) Bill 2012 was passed on Wednesday 27 June. The union movement has campaigned for Paid Parental Leave including paid secondary carer’s leave for over 30 years. 
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Read Peter Tighe's blog here on Apprentice Wages and how they don't suit modern tradies. 
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