36-hour week, 69 paid days off mean union easy steet

Concerns over possible corruption within the commercial building industry even after being so well paid and good conditions.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/hour-week-69-paid-days-off-mean-union-easy-steet/story-e6frf7kx-1226461195425

Grave global concerns for Australia’s economy

With the end of the resource boom, what is going to happen to the Australian Economy?  Forecasters are looking at days of doom and gloom

http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/grave-global-concerns-for-australia%E2%80%99s-economy-.html

Air fares come crashing down as profitable Virgin declares war on Qantas

Things are looking up for travellers as Virgin declares war on Qantas in regards to prices.  Virgin are looking to increase interstate travel by 9% in the next six months to improve their domestic market share.
Virgin have set a goal to improve their productivity and increasing the customers from the corporate and government market.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/holiday-deals/air-fares-come-crashing-down-as-profitable-virgin-declares-war-on-qantas/story-e6frfqh0-1226460233683#ixzz24t3jsDP5

We'll keep on fighting, Victorian construction unions vow as blockade continues in Melbourne's CBD

While Fair Work Australia have declared the action by CMFEU as illegal, they are continuing their strike action outside of the Grocon worksite in Lonsdale Street, protesting against unsafe work practices putting worker's lives at risk.
Today the protest has been more peaceful than the violent scenes from yesterday.
Both parties are looking to cease the action, but as yet an agreement has not been reached.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/well-keep-on-fighting-victorian-construction-unions-vow-as-blockade-continues-in-melbournes-cbd/story-e6frf7kx-1226460341035

Police clash with hundreds of construction workers at Grocon protest in Melbourne's CBD

Concerns over the actions of Police and Union members at a protest in Melbourne today.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/jundreds-of-construction-workers-in-grocon-city-protest/story-e6frf7jo-1226459524869

Police, builders clash on CBD picket line

Members of the CFMEU - Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union are currently striking in front of the Grocon Construction site on Lonsdale St, Melbourne, over safety on the work place after two workers have lost their lives.

There are also concerns over the use of non-union labour with the current dispute taking place.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-builders-clash-on-cbd-picket-line-20120828-24x5z.html

Abbott consigns Howard to the IR dustbin

Former Prime Minister John Howard has come out in support of IR reform to bring back statutory individual contracts.  Tony Abbott has quickly squashed this as an idea as Work Choices was a past idea and Australia has to move forward.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-consigns-howard-to-the-ir-dustbin-20120827-24wpm.html

New logo for Microsoft ahead of major launches

For the first time in 25 years, Microsoft are relaunching their brand with a new logo.  While the colours are still there, the flag is gone.
Why would they after all this time?  Microsoft are in an industry where things are constantly changing, it is hard to keep up with what is happening if you are not at the forefront.  Apple have been leading the way in regards to music, phone, tablets, and even desktops that Microsoft have been seen as the one trying to keep up.  A new logo and a new outlook could mean big changes at Microsoft.  Watch this space ...

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/new-logo-for-microsoft-ahead-of-major-launches/story-fnda1bsz-1226457146598#ixzz24PruhcHn

Business deals drying up for Grant Hackett

Grant Hackett is one of Australia's most well known swimmers, winning the 1500m at both the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games.  After a well publicised number of issues with his temper and sleeping tablets, he has now been dumped as the face of Uncle Toby's.

http://www.news.com.au/business/business-deals-drying-up-for-grant-hackett/story-e6frfm1i-1226457017711?from=igoogle+gadget+compact+news_rss

Half of Aussie workers 'would rather quit'

Survey has shown that 46% of employees would rather quit their job than deal with office tension.  Such surveys can be used by HR managers to introduce strategies to reduce office tension.  The HR manager needs to look at if the rewards system is causing tension, does the appraisal system cause stress to workers, do they need addition development or training to help support them in their jobs.

http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/half-of-aussie-workers-would-rather-quit/story-e6frfm9r-1226454806439?from=igoogle+gadget+compact+news_rss

RETAIL FAIL: Copycat T-shirts pulled off shelves of chain store Glue

Urban clothing store Glue has apologised to a Sydney designer for stocking a product which was a copy of his clothing.  The clothes have been taken off the shelves after the incident.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/glue-plagiarism/story-fnda1bsz-1226454845614#ixzz24AH4oa4a

Telstra to cut 651 jobs in revamp

With a Telstra restructure, 651 jobs will go to streamline operations, with some of those jobs heading overseas.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/telstra-to-cut-651-jobs-in-revamp-20120821-24jwi.html

QF-Cock Up: 'comedy of errors' after pilots clash

A public relations crisis for Qantas as they try to cover after an issue with a flight from Texas.  A plane was delayed due to the pilots arguing with each other on the tarmac, leaving the passengers on the plane waiting.  The passengers were then disembarked and lead to hotels without any toiletries or access to their luggage.  When their plane finally arrived in Australia, many people's luggage was lost.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/qfcock-up-comedy-of-errors-after-pilots-clash-20120821-24joq.html#ixzz24AFSP9yw

The Commonwealth Bank apologises controversial Olympics bomb hoax ad

Comm Bank have officially apologised for its ad depicting terrorism at the Olympic games.  The Ad has been pulled from the air after concerns with the content.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/the-commonwealth-banks-pulls-controversial-olympics-bomb-hoax-ad/story-fnda1bsz-1226441413857#ixzz22Mwns900

Ad really bombs: day the bank should have stuck a T on CAN

The ad that didn't work ... Commonwealth Bank ad taken off the air for showing possible terrorism near the Olympic games.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/olympics/off-the-field/ad-really-bombs-day-the-bank-should-have-stuck-a-t-on-can-20120802-23hms.html#ixzz22MsatEqM

Darrell Lea closes half its stores, cuts 200 jobs

Darrell Lea have closed half its stores, cutting 200 jobs.  Darrell Lea announced it had gone into voluntary receivership earlier this year, has done this in an attempt to avoid completed closure.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/darrell-lea-closes-half-its-stores-cuts-200-jobs-20120802-23h38.html