Transport union suspends Victorian branch secretary over harassment allegations

Transport Workers’ Union Victorian state secretary Mem Suleyman is alleged to have harassed branch organisers at his union, leading the organisation to charge him with “gross misbehaviour”.

A letter from TWU Victoria/Tasmania branch president John Rowe to Suleyman – seen by this masthead – says the union’s branch committee of management passed a resolution on Friday to charge him with “gross misbehaviour and/or gross neglect of duty”.

Transport Workers’ Union Victoria branch secretary Mem Suleyman.Credit: TWU

On Friday, the TWU confirmed it would stand down Suleyman from his role, pending the investigation, but at the time did not reveal details of the allegations against him.

Suleyman declined to comment when contacted on Saturday.

The resolution – passed at a special union meeting earlier on Friday and also obtained by this masthead – says the allegations against Suleyman involve “his harassing behaviour directed to branch organisers”.

“Further particulars of the charge will be provided,” the resolution says.

The union’s internal rules allow members to be “charged” with breaches that, if proven true, can lead to punishment including suspension or expulsion.

Suleyman was told he was suspended from his position until the charge was determined by a special general meeting of branch members.

Rowe ordered Suleyman to return all union property to its Port Melbourne office and to not contact any branch organiser or employee without the permission of branch executives.

TWU assistant secretary Dissio Markos has been appointed acting secretary during Suleyman’s suspension, the resolution says.

Suleyman’s suspension comes amid a tumultuous period in the state’s union movement.

Powerful construction union boss John Setka resigned last month when faced with separate allegations – revealed by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes – about misconduct involving him and the CFMEU.

The Health Services Union’s Victorian secretary, Diana Asmar, is facing calls to step aside while unrelated claims against her, published by this masthead on Tuesday, are investigated. She strenuously denies the allegations.

Suleyman is the brother of Allan government minister Natalie Suleyman and a significant figure in the TWU and the right-aligned Labor Unity faction. He was appointed assistant national secretary of the TWU’s Victoria/Tasmania branch in 2021 and took over as branch secretary this year.

Meanwhile, the Victorian government has vowed to support the Fair Work Commission in its Federal Court case to install independent administrators in charge of the CFMEU.

State Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said the government supported the actions the federal government had taken to stamp out any misconduct within the CFMEU.

“We’re supporting court proceedings to appoint an administrator,” Pallas said on Saturday.

“We are working with the federal government to stamp out the rotten culture that has been exposed in our construction industry.”

The Albanese government is set to introduce legislation next week forcing the appointment of an administrator after the CFMEU resisted the Fair Work Commission’s attempts to install one.

With Annika Smethurst

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