Union dissent grows over CFMEU laws

Three building unions in Victoria have warned the new CFMEU laws represent the “greatest attack on workers’ democracy in a century”.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union national secretary Alex Claassens is concerned a weakened CFMEU will compromise safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

The national leadership of the Rail Tram and Bus Union has joined union dissent over Labor’s CFMEU administration laws, saying a weakened construction union risked compromising workplace safety and emboldening employers.

The concerns expressed by RTBU national secretary Alex Claassens came as three building unions in Victoria attacked the legislation as representing the “greatest attack on workers’ democracy in a century – delivered by a Labor government”.

In a letter to Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt and the Senate crossbench, Mr Claassens said “time and time again” construction companies had found ways to cut costs, cut corners and maximise profits at the expense of safety.

“That’s why the best protection against unsafe and shoddy work practices in the construction and infrastructure sector is, and always will, be the existence of strong, vigilant and fearless unions,” he said.

While Mr Claassens said the allegations of criminal links with the CFMEU’s construction and general division must be fully investigated, he noted the union consistently provided effective representation for its members, and “consistently holds rogue employers to account”.

He said he was concerned that aspects of the legislation forcing the union into administration could undermine the role of unions in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

“A weakened CFMEU, prevented from providing robust representation for its members, would inevitably compromise safety and workplace standards in the construction and infrastructure sectors,” he said.

“It would empower and embolden employers in those sectors, and compromise the ability of unions such as the RTBU to represent their own members.”

Urging Senator Watt to “avoid overreach”, he said all workers deserved the protection of a strong union.

In an August 9 letter to Senator Watt, the Victorian leaders of the Electrical Trades Union, the Australian Manufacturing Work­ers Union and the plumbers union said they were writing to “express outrage” at the then proposed legislation, which was subsequently passed this week.

They said the government should have allowed the Federal Court to hear the Fair Work Commission’s substantive application to appoint an administrator before introducing any legislation. “Clearly there are reported issues that must be addressed, however failure to respect the law and due process makes a mockery of our whole democracy,” they wrote.

Senator Watt said the CFMEU legislation passed on Tuesday and “we will now work through the required steps to decide if it is in the public interest to appoint an administrator”.