Mining union’s push to control all workers on job sites a ‘shameless power grab’

The mining union has been accused of a “shameless power grab” by pushing to control all workers on job sites as it looks to capitalise on sweeping workplace law changes ushered in under the Albanese Government.

The mining union has been accused of a “shameless power grab” by pushing to control all workers on job sites – no matter who employs them or whether they’re union members – as it looks to capitalise on sweeping workplace law changes ushered in under the Albanese Government.

The legal appeal by the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) has led to fears it will allow union delegates to pressure workers, whether they’re members or not, to partake in industrial action.

Critics of the move said it would also allow unions to override company policies and contact and pressure workers on a job site even if they’re subcontractors or labour hire.

The MEU earlier this month launched an appeal against the Fair Work Commission (FWC), with a legal submission obtained by The Daily Telegraph outlining what the union claims are errors in how the FWC has implemented Labor’s ‘closing loopholes’ legislation.

Among the ‘errors’ in the FWC’s application, according to the union, is that it doesn’t allow union delegates to represent all members of the workplace, including those “who are eligible to be a member of the relevant employee organisation”.

Senator Michaelia Cash called the union appeal was “a shameless union power grab”. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Coalition workplace relations spokeswoman Senator Michaelia Cash called the appeal “a shameless union power grab”.

“The Albanese Government’s upheaval of the industrial relations system has emboldened unions to go after even more power,” she said.

“Anthony Albanese wants to give control of the mining sector to his union mates, just like he gave control of the construction sector to the CFMEU, with disastrous results.”

Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable said the union was “attempting to create a privileged class of untouchable union delegates”.

“It’s clear the MEU wants to have unlimited power over all workers, whether they are union members or not,” she said.

Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable said the new union powers were alarming, but not surprising. Picture: Colin Murty

“It is alarming, but not surprising, that the union believes the Albanese Government’s new legislation entitles it to have these powers.”

The MEU has more than 24,000 members across coal mines and other job sites throughout Australia.

Coalition workplace relations Minister Murray Watt said Labor’s workplace laws were “lifting wages, making jobs more secure and shrinking the gender pay gap, while creating more jobs and keeping inflation low”.

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said Labor’s workplace laws were creating more jobs and keeping inflation low. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Peter Dutton and the Coalition voted against every step Labor has taken to lift wages and now they are promising to take wages backwards again, if they win the next election,” he said.

A MEU spokeswoman said assertions their legal move was a power grab were a “silly claim” and that the union was “seeking rights to represent workers that we cover or are able to cover under our rules, as intended by the Fair Work Act”.

“In some instances, company policies may be applied in a manner that limits or undermines our right to reasonably represent workers … Changes to the Fair Work Act are designed to remove barriers to MEU delegates fairly representing members and eligible members,” she said.