The Federal Govt ‘s proposed Paid Parental leave will generally only be available to mothers. The scheme will be a boost to BLF families with working mothers, but unfortunately the paid leave will not be available to fathers except in certain circumstances (details below). Only one parent can receive the paid leave at a time.

A very complex wage complaint has come to an end with BLF member Robert Allen settling for $16,000 from Toth Engineering. Mr. Allen accepted the out of court offer for his claim of unpaid wages Friday, 22 January. The claim went back six years which is as far back an unpaid wages complaint can be legally taken.

Laing O’Rourke has been called to answer for an unfair dismissal claim from a permanent employee who had to undergo life-saving kidney operations.

BLF wins traffic controller’s long service leave

After much back and forth from QLeave, BLF member Peter Guerin will have his portable long service leave reinstated.

The ABCC has abandoned its second-ever prosecution of the BLF. The ABCC’s hopeless case against BLF organiser Eddie Bland and delegate Greg Thomas was set for a 3 day trial in court in June. The cases were dismissed by the Court at the request of the ABCC within the first few hours of the trial on the first day after the BLF’s barrister questioned the ABCC’s main witness, Peter Wiggins, boss of Tri-Nat Enterprises t/a MPD Constructions. Wiggins answers were confused.

Increasingly, on seeking employment workers have been asked to provide a workers’ compensation claims history to their potential employer.  Workers’ compensation claim histories are basic listings of injury type and date of claim. Non-compensable injuries from sporting or motor vehicle accidents are not identified.

It is with regret and sadness that I announce I will be leaving the BLF on 18th June 2008. I have accepted an Industrial Officer position with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union of Queensland where I will be representing marginalised groups of employees such as child care workers, cleaners and hospitality workers.