THE MARITIME Union of Australia has announced it will join and fund the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) with its High Court challenge against the federal government.
The move comes after the government placed all branches of the CFMEU’s construction division into administration, amidst allegations of corruption and criminal activity within the union, including claims of criminal figures being appointed to positions of power.
The MUA called the government’s decision “unjustified, chaotic and reckless” in its announcement last week, affirming “corruption and criminality have absolutely no place in unions, the construction sector, or in Australian society more broadly”.
At a meeting of the MUA’s national executive last week, the leadership of the maritime division reconfirmed opposition to both the method of the government’s intervention and its implementation to date.
The MUA claims the legislation in question to have been “rushed through” both houses of parliament last month and had effectively robbed construction workers of an effective union while also setting aside essential Australian democratic principles.
Officially a division of the CMFEU, the MUA claims the government’s administration move has had a “disastrous” impact on the progress of enterprise bargaining agreements that were currently active, as well as the green light it has sent to bad employers that mistreat construction workers.
“Our division remains deeply concerned by the legislative precedent established by the federal government to remove trade union rights on the basis of untested media allegations,” the MUA announcement said.
“We are supporting our federated union’s members in the construction industry and backing them in as they fight for the right of their division to exist.”
Administrator Mark Irving KC reportedly confirmed that there would be no political donations made by the CFMEU during the period of administration.
Meanwhile, former construction union boss John Setka was referred to police by Victorian premier Jacinta Allan after he reportedly gained access to two government building sites to address workers.
Ms Allan reportedly claimed Mr Setka was on the sites unlawfully and that there is “no place” for him on the worksites in question.
Setka resigned from his position as secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian division of the CFMEU in July this year, a position he held for 12 years, following what he described as “relentless” media coverage.
