Victorian unions confirm plans for legal action against federal intervention into Labor
An alliance of some of the state’s biggest unions have confirmed they are weighing up legal action against Labor as the fallout over the party’s branch stacking scandal continues.
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An alliance Victoria’s major trade unions have confirmed they are weighing up legal action against Labor as the fallout over the party’s branch stacking scandal continues.
The CFMEU on Monday revealed they were among a group considering how to oppose a planned intervention by Labor’s National Executive into the Victorian branch.
The push by the federal wing of the party would see votes for leadership positions, committees, preselections suspended until 2023.
But affiliated unions have since warned the move also suspends their rights despite not being linked to any alleged wrongdoing.
“While we agree with Premier Andrews swift action and support the cleaning up of the party, we fail to understand a three-year process,” a CFMEU spokesman said.
“Members and unions pay millions of dollars supporting the party and are entitled to their democratic rights.
“This isn’t a one-party state, unnecessarily removing democratic votes from members is just not Australian.
“It would be embarrassing if it took three years to ‘clean up’ the party considering the number of branch members.”
Its understood the unions, which include the MUA, RTBU and HWU, will only push ahead with legal action if they are unable to negotiate a solution with the Premier.
The group has sought advice about whether the federation intervention is legal, with a meeting expected to happen between union heads and senior figures with Labor over the coming weeks.
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