Union leaders could be banned from NSW Labor executive under proposed legislation

The state’s newest MP has called for NSW Labor to end the “conflict of interest” that allows union bosses to serve on the party’s administrative committee.

Union leaders would be banned from sitting on Labor’s powerful administrative committee under a proposal put forward by new state Liberal MP Chris Rath.

The call comes after Unions NSW boss Mark Morey declared 2022 would be a year of rolling strikes unless the NSW government abolished a legislated pay cap.

Mr Morey is a member of Labor’s administrative committee, along with a number of other powerful union secretaries.

Mr Rath used his first speech in parliament on Monday night to argue that leaders should be banned from holding top political positions – similar to a Liberal party ban on lobbyists holding positions on the party’s state executive.

“When this government negotiates with trade union chiefs, we need to remember that they have a vested interest in helping Labor win the next election, and no interest in helping us run essential public services.”

Teachers Cheryl Rose and Tina Lagoutaris at the March teachers’ on strike, where teachers walked off the job due to pay and entitlements. Picture John Grainger

Mr Rath replaced former MP Don Harwin, who resigned in March.

“Just as lobbyists cannot hold top positions within political parties, nor should the trade union bosses who negotiate with the government on essential public services,” Mr Rath said.

“The message should be clear, you can be a powerbroker or a trade union official, but you can’t be both.”

He called on Labor to “remove the conflict of interest” from its party structure, but said it could be imposed by legislation if they fail to do so.

The proposal was backed by Industrial Relations Minister Damien Tudehope, who accused Labor of being “complicit” in “every industrial action that takes place in NSW”.

“At a time when the secretary of the Labor movement committed NSW to 12 months of industrial chaos, it is appropriate Union executives be banned from holding positions on Labor’s administrative committee,” Mr Tudehope said.

“Any other position entrenches the view that the union movement is running the Labor Party.”

A spokesman for Labor leader Chris Minns said they noted Mr Rath’s speech “with interest”.

“NSW Labor was founded by working people for working people and that’s what we will continue to do.’