Act now on reckless power, says union buster Chris Corrigan

Australia’s original union buster Chris Corrigan has called for ‘reckless’ union power to be curtailed by the competition watchdog before further damage is done to the economy.

Illustration: Johannes Leak

Australia’s original union buster Chris Corrigan has called for “reckless” union power to be ­curtailed by the competition watchdog before further damage is done to the economy.

Mr Corrigan, who led a bitter battle with the Maritime Union of Australia in the late ’90s that shook up industrial relations on the waterfront, told The Australian from his home in Switzerland that the power of unions was unique in Australia because of their control over the ALP, referencing Bob Menzies’ “faceless men” accusation of the 1960s.

He said CFMEU boss John Setka’s threat of a work-to-rule on AFL projects including the Hobart stadium underscored the need for additional powers for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to rein in unions.

The CFMEU threatened the football organisation over its ­appointment of Stephen McBurney as head of umpiring, due to his previous role as a union ­watchdog.

“It’s the most lopsided situation,” said the former chair of logistics giant Qube Holdings.

“Even the smallest companies are subject to ACCC surveillance but massive unions can do what they want.

“If a power company threatened to cut electricity to the AFL in the way (the CFMEU has issued threats against building sites), they would be sanctioned and not allowed to do it. This is not just about unions amassing power but using that power.”

Mr Corrigan said a handful of powerful unions had been targeting essential industries for decades and hurting productivity.

“Every Australian will be feeling the impact of this through ­inflationary pressure that is subsiding in other countries but not in Australia,” he said.

“Union power in Australia is unique around the world because of the structure of the ALP which makes the party beholden to unions. I am old enough to remember Bob Menzies talking about the faceless men of the ALP.”

CFMEU leader John Setka.

Chris Corrigan.

Mr Corrigan said he had been calling for the ACCC to be given powers over unions since the 1990s. “They need the mandate to do it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the TWU’s demand for Virgin Australia’s owner Bain Capital to explain why it was considering an architect of the unlawful Qantas outsourcing as Virgin CEO has failed to attract the support of other unions, and has been condemned by Coalition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie.

The revelation former Qantas chief operating officer Paul Jones was one of two short-listed candidates for the top job at Virgin was considered “alarming” by the TWU, which wrote to Bain Capital seeking more information.

Senator McKenzie said it was concerning to see unions had become more militant and emboldened under the Albanese government, “to the detriment of Australian businesses”.

“We cannot return to the dark days of union-controlled domestic airlines with stifled competition and strongarmed investors that ultimately led to the duopoly that still exists in the skies of Australia,” Senator McKenzie said.

Then Patrick stevedores boss Chris Corrigan in 1998.

“The TWU is practising mission creep here. Public comments go beyond its remit as a representative body for transport workers, in seeking to influence the investment decisions of businesses trying to run profitable, sustainable and safe airlines.”

Other aviation unions were reluctant to support the TWU, declining to comment publicly. However, it is understood that privately other unions believed the TWU was overstepping the mark given its relatively low levels of membership at Virgin.

About 25 per cent of pilots are TWU members with the majority of the remainder part of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots.

The Australian Services Union, Flight Attendants Association and AFAP would not comment on the TWU’s demand.

Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said they would work with whomever Bain Capital appointed as CEO.