Three of Australia’s most militant outfits to merge in grab for power

EXCLUSIVE: A MERGER of three disruptive militant far left unions threatens to derail the economy with even a Labor luminary warning of a new era of industrial mayhem.

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A MERGER of three of the nation’s most disruptive militant far left unions threatens to derail the economy with even a Labor luminary warning of a new era of industrial mayhem.

The infamously lawless construction union has begun the process of joining forces with the maritime union and the shrinking textiles union.

Former Labor minister and ex-ACTU president Martin Ferguson yesterday warned the merger was “just about politics and industrial power”.

He said members of the three unions had nothing in common and would not benefit from the merger of the Construction Forestry and Mining Union, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

“I cannot see a community of interest between a bloke cutting down a tree and the activities of a seafarer or wharfie and a furniture maker,” Mr Ferguson said.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cashsaid: “This merger represents a major threat to productivity, jobs growth and economic prosperity.

“Multiple officials from these unions have been found guilty of the most serious breaches of industrial law and fined millions of dollars. Their culture of bullying and standover tactics should have no place in Australian workplaces.”

Michaelia Cash warns the merger represents a major threat to productivity, jobs growth and economic prosperity. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

However, a plan for legislation requiring a public interest test will not make it into Parliament in time to thwart the merger.

The unions are due to appear before the Fair Work Commission tomorrow to seek a timetable to ballot their members on the proposal.

Industry leaders warned the merger could lead to economic chaos.

The CFMEU has been hit with $6.27 million in fines from the Australian Building and Construction Commission alone in the past five years.

Glencore coal chief Peter Freyberg said increasingly militant action by the union at its Oaky North mine in Queensland had resulted in the loss of $1 million in wages.

Fair Work Commission is assessing bid by Construction Forestry and Mining Union, Maritime Union of Australia and Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

“Returning to militancy doesn’t create jobs, doesn’t enhance the workplace experience, doesn’t improve wages,” he said.

“It deters investment and makes people look for alternatives that employ less people. So I think it’s a very sad turn of events.”

He said it was a union returning to “1970s tactics” and “gutless bullyboy abuse”.

Ports Australia boss Mike Gallacher said the government should speed up the legislation to block the move.

He called on the government to “spell out” its concerns to Fair Work “before it goes any further”.

Amanda Mansini from the Australian Metals and Mines Association warned “the stability of the supply chain, from pit to port, is at risk”.