‘Stand up to workplace abuse’: employers launch campaign in support of union restricting bill

National employers have urged members of the public to tell Senate crossbenchers to support the Coalition’s union restricting bill.

Senator Jacqui Lambie with Pauline Hanson will be key to the Ensuring Integrity Bill. Picture: Gary Ramage

National employers have launched a new campaign in support of the Coalition’s union busting Ensuring Integrity Bill, urging members of the public to tell Senate crossbenchers they need to “stand up to workplace abuse”.

The Australian Chamber Chamber of Commerce and Industry said its “unapologetically strong campaign” sought to highlight “bullying and threatening conduct” by union officials in the construction industry.

“Right across the country, Aussie workers are being subjected to vile and threatening behaviour while just trying to do their job,” the chamber says.

“When a pregnant woman is left cowering after dozens of balaclava-clad union thugs storm her office, or when inspectors flee job sites after being spat on, or when people on worksites are called offensive and disrespectful names such as “dogs”, “scum”, “scabs”, “gutless grubs”, “weak as p.ss” and “lower than a paedophile” something needs to be done. It is time to say enough is enough.”

The bill which seeks to make it easier to deregister unions and ban union officials is before the Senate after the government’s initial attempt to pass it laws was thwarted last year.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has been negotiating proposed amendments with Senator Jacqui Lambie whose support the government is expected to need to get the bill passed.

The chamber said the bill would empower courts to “truly tackle the demeaning, corrupt and thuggish behaviour that currently exists in some of the dark corners on Australian worksites”.

It urged members of the public to send a message – prepared by the chamber – to crossbenchers, calling on them to back the bill.

“I write to express my concern at the repeated, deliberate, contemptuous conduct of a minority of union extremists, who wantonly and repeatedly thumb their noses at our laws, and ignore our judges,” the message says.

The chamber’s chief executive James Pearson said it was “high time” the conduct of some in the union movement was highlighted, as workers and small businesses deserved better.

“We urge the Senate to pass this bill and say no to abuse, threats and intimidation once and for all.,” he said.