Qld Industrial Relations Bill aims to eliminate non-Labor-linked unions: claim

Competitors of Labor-linked unions claim changes to the Industrial Relations Bill are designed to eliminate them and protect party donations.

The State Government has been accused of attempting to wipe out the competitors of friendly unions to protect the millions of dollars in donations and support received by the Labor Party.

A parliamentary committee considering the government’s proposed changes to the Industrial Relations Bill has been handed a damning submission by employee advocacy group the Red Unions, which has accused the government of corruption by attempting to wipe out competition.

The Red Unions, which include the Nurses Professionals Association of Queensland, argued the Bill would remove the ability for workers to decide which union to join.

“The introduction of this Bill will see it weaponised as a way to strip genuine choice away from hard working nurses, teachers and other Queensland public servants to force members

and their fees back into monopoly ALP-friendly registered organisations and their respective coffers,” it noted.

The Nurses Professionals Association of Queensland has been in the crosshairs of government ministers, who have accused if of falsely claiming it could represent medical professionals.

However the association has repeatedly hit back, declaring ministers were spooked by its ability to lure members away from the Labor-friendly Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the QNMU and Queensland Teachers Union – which Red Unions have targeted – were not affiliated with the Labor Party.

The Red Unions’ claim the Bill will “scratch the back” of registered organisations, which will then provide funds or assist in the re-election of Labor politicians.

“This is about money and the mandatory introduction and enforcement of the ALP politicisation of union representation in the workplace,” the submission said.

“Working nurses, teachers and other professionals are just the cannon fodder who are now all expected to pay about $200 more each year than is needed to provide the union member services that they want.”

However, Ms Grace said the Red Union’s claim’s were nonsense.

“The primacy of registered organisations representing both employers and employees has been a central feature of IR systems throughout Australia for generations,” she said.

“We make no apologies for ensuring those that operate within those systems are registered and subject to strict reporting, transparency, and accountability requirements.

“I recently met with some of Queensland’s key employer organisations who advised of their negative experiences with some of these unregistered organisations, and their strong support for our changes.”