Miners cite CFMEU law-breaking to split from union

The CFMEU’s mining and energy division has documented 145 instances of law breaking by the union’s construction division.

The former national secretary of the CFMEU, Michael O’Connor, says the breakdown in relations between rival officials is ’unfixable’.

The CFMEU”s mining and energy division has documented 145 instances of law breaking by the union’s construction and general division as part of its bid to split from the union.

After losing an initial attempt to split from the union on technical grounds, the mining and ­energy division’s new application to the Fair Work Commission relies on contentious changes introduced by the ­Coalition government in 2021.

Under the changes, the commission can accept an appli­cation made more than five years after their merger, but the mining division has to document the construction division’s record of not complying with workplace or safety laws

In evidence tendered to the commission, the mining and energy division says the construction and general division has engaged in 145 contraventions of the Fair Work Act.

In contrast, it says mining and energy has been involved in one instance of contraventions and penalties.

If approved, the new Mining and Energy Union would seek to transfer 21000 members from the CFMEU. and be in a “very strong financial position” with more than $120 million in assets.

It says it brought in $14.37 million in total comprehensive income.

The manufacturing division is separately seeking to split from the CFMEU, and wants to be known as the Australian Production Industries and Finishing Trades Union. It proposes to have 9611 members and just under $5 million in assets.

According to the mining and energy division, the construction and general division has $122 million in net assets and total comprehensive income earned $10.78 million.

If members of both divisions vote to split, the rest of the union could be known as the Construction and Maritime Union. or the CMU.

The union’s former national secretary, Michael O’Connor, has declared a breakdown in relations between rival officials “unfixable”.