By Ben Schneiders
- Workers complain AWU deal was trade-off for industrial peace
- Bill Shorten had AWU deal with builder
- Bill Shorten: Story about union deal an unfair smear
Opposition Leader Bill Shortern was the Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers Union at the time of the payment.
Mr Shorten has claimed he was smeared by our report.
He has offered no explanation about the payments since Fairfax Media's report was published or on Wednesday when we first asked him.
Bill Shorten in 2005. When asked about his time as AWU secretary, Mr Shorten told reporters on Wednesday he had not struck sweetheart deals with employers.Credit: James Davies
Our questions still stand.
Q. Were Winslow workers in 2005 (when the company paid for their dues) aware that they were AWU members?
Q. What did Winslow get in return for paying the AWU?
Q. Was it common practice for the AWU to have companies pay for the membership dues of workers when Mr Shorten was state secretary?
Q. Is it appropriate for companies to pay the union dues of members?