# Fair Work Commission Type: organization Source: HR & Workforce Intelligence Brief — https://gethrbrief.com/entity/fair-work-commission Canonical HTML page: https://gethrbrief.com/entity/fair-work-commission ## Timeline - **2026-06-19**: Fair Work Commission decision handed down — Commissioner finds dismissal harsh, unjust, and unreasonable, orders Panda Mart to pay more than $14,000 in compensation after the employer ignored all proceedings. - **2026-03-26**: Return to Work — Staff resume duties but unions confirm the strike threat remains on the table as a tactical option. - **2026-03-25**: Negotiation Deadlock — Talks between ABC management and union representatives fail to produce a revised offer. - **2026-03-24**: Strike Action Commences — ABC staff walk out, disrupting national news and radio programming schedules. - **2026-03-08**: ACTU 5-Week Push — ACTU formally launches its campaign for a fifth week of annual leave. - **2025-12-27**: Dismissal without notice — Worker arrives for a rostered shift and is told by co-workers that she has been dismissed; two store managers confirm in the carpark, citing poor attendance and performance—no prior warnings given. - **2025-02**: Employment commences — Worker starts at Panda Mart's Cranbourne store, working 8–10 hours a day, five days a week, paid $24 per hour in cash. - **2024**: Right to Disconnect — New laws introduced to allow workers to ignore work communications outside of hours. - **2009**: Fair Work Act — National Employment Standards (NES) codify the 4-week minimum leave entitlement. - **1970s**: 4-Week Standard Set — Four weeks of annual leave becomes the standard for most Australian workers. ## Recent coverage (6 stories) ### BHP faces $50M strike cost as 250+ workers demand pay equity in Pilbara 2026-07-16 09:06:01 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 8 Over half of 450 workers at BHP's Port Hedland terminal walked off the job, demanding equal pay and locked-in conditions, in a dispute that could cost the company $50M in lost revenue daily. The strike, the first in the Pilbara in decades, exposes deep rifts in compensation practices and highlights the growing worker demand for transparency and equity in the resources sector. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/bhp-50m-strike-cost-pay-equity-pilbara ### Panda Mart ignored the FWC and now owes $14K: an HR compliance nightmare 2026-07-05 19:34:05 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2 A discount retailer’s cash-in-hand pay, lack of payslips, and complete withdrawal from an unfair dismissal case resulted in a $14,000 compensation order. HR teams must heed the warning on procedural fairness and regulatory engagement. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/panda-mart-fwc-14k-hr-lessons ### 61 redundancies at Macquarie: HR lessons from union-targeting claims 2026-06-28 01:28:56 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2 Macquarie University’s redundancy round faces legal fire after an internal review found the process unfair for two union-active academics. HR leaders must examine how selection criteria, documentation, and consultation can prevent adverse action claims. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/hr-macquarie-redundancy-compliance-risk ### Strike Threat Persists as ABC Staff Return to Work Amid Pay Dispute 2026-03-26 08:38:00 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 3 ABC employees have returned to their posts following a period of industrial action, but unions warn that further strikes remain on the table. The dispute centers on a breakdown in Enterprise Agreement negotiations regarding wage increases, job security, and the broadcaster's digital-first transformation. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/abc-strike-threat-remains-march-2026 ### Victoria’s WFH Mandate: A Legal Minefield for Australian Employers 2026-03-23 03:56:53 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2 The Victorian government's landmark initiative to codify the right to work from home is set to reshape the Australian labor market, offering flexibility to carers while raising alarms over increased litigation. Legal experts warn that the shift could trigger a wave of workplace disputes and higher insurance premiums as employers navigate new compliance boundaries. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/victoria-wfh-legal-claims-surge ### ACTU Pushes for Five Weeks Annual Leave to Combat National Burnout 2026-03-08 23:06:20 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 4 The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has launched a landmark campaign to increase the national minimum annual leave entitlement from four to five weeks. The proposal aims to modernize the Fair Work Act and address the rising crisis of workplace stress and burnout across the country. Full story: https://gethrbrief.com/story/actu-five-weeks-annual-leave-proposal --- This page is a machine-readable summary. Sentiment measures the directional read of each development for this entity, not the tone of the reporting; impact weights consequence, not syndication reach. See https://gethrbrief.com/guides/methodology for the full editorial methodology.