FWO

The Fair Work Ombudsman has brought its first-ever court proceedings against a franchisor, alleging it is legally responsible for its franchisees’ underpayments of nine workers.

A judge has rejected arguments by the Fair Work Ombudsman that the CFMMEU should be slugged with a penalty close to the maximum for the conduct of union officers who failed to show entry permits at a worksite, but she has imposed personal penalties against two officers with a record of prior breaches.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has filed court proceedings against the owner of Super Cheap Auto, Rebel Sport, Macpac, BCF and Ray’s Outdoors for allegedly underpaying thousands of employees across Australia.

The University of Melbourne has hit back at the Fair Work Ombudsman’s allegations that it took adverse action against two casual academics to prevent them from claiming payment for extra hours worked, but admitted a supervisor penned an email referring to one of them as a “self-entitled Y-genner”.

A judge has found four drivers working with transport company Avert Logistics are independent contractors despite the business supplying vehicles for them.

A class action settlement with Woolworths which “troubled” a Federal Court judge has been abandoned, with the lead applicants resuming their bid to intervene in a parallel proceeding brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman against the supermarket giant.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal proceedings against the Sushi Bay group of restaurants and its owner for allegedly underpaying workers to the tune of $650,000.

Saying it will only benefit the law firm and lead applicants, a judge has refused to approve a settlement in an underpayments class action against supermarket giant Woolworths, which would see no payout to employees.

Fast food giant McDonald’s has been hit with a class action alleging it systematically failed to provide employees with paid 10 minute rest breaks.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken supermarket giant Coles to court for allegedly underpaying more than 7,800 staff members $115 million over three years.