TWU chief stood down over ‘harassing behaviour’ allegations

Powerful union boss and Victorian Labor Party political figure Mem Suleyman has been stood down and is now facing an internal investigation.

Powerful union boss and Victorian Labor Party political figure Mem Suleyman has been stood down and is facing an internal investigation.

The Victorian secretary of the Transport Workers union, Mem Suleyman, has been stood down pending a union investigation into his alleged “harassing behaviour”.

The union’s branch committee of management wrote to Mr Suleyman on Friday informing him he had been stood aside while the claims were probed.

The dramatic developments on Friday afternoon have rocked the TWU’s powerful Victorian division by a series of allegations against its Mr Suleyman.

In a statement to The Weekend Australian, a national TWU spokesperson said:

“Late on Friday, the TWU became aware of allegations regarding its Victorian Secretary. The TWU strives for the highest levels of governance. The union is not yet in a position to assess the allegations and is seeking further clarity over the weekend.”

The specific nature of the allegations was not detailed in the statement, but sources said the letter to Mr Suleyman on Friday described the allegations as “harassing behaviour”. The Weekend Australian is not suggesting the allegations are true, simply that they have been made, and the union is investigating them.

Mr Suleyman declined to comment, saying only: “The national union will provide a response.”

The Australian can reveal tensions erupted between Mr Suleyman, a union and political powerbroker who earns $236,000 as state secretary, and the committee at the TWU’s

Port Melbourne offices on Friday.

As the state secretary of the TWU, Mr Suleyman wields enormous influence within the

Victorian ALP. He sits on the party’s public office selection committee which helps select state and federal MPs.

The dramatic developments will send shockwaves through the Victorian ALP at both a state and federal level as Mr Suleyman is well connected to influential Labor MPs.

Among those MPs the veteran union leader is close to is Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and the member for Hawke, Sam Rae.

Mr Suleyman’s sister, Natalie Suleyman, is the Minister for Small Business and Youth Affairs in the Allan Government.

After internal union elections in 2022, Mr Suleyman said he was “humbled” to have received the support of members.

“We are humbled by this strong endorsement from the membership,” he said. “Members have led a strong charge across aviation and road transport for a better industry, and will continue to be front and centre as we work to lift standards for all workers.” “I am incredibly grateful to the members who have shown every day that they will not relent in our mission towards a transport industry where all participants can thrive. We look forward to a term working with the membership towards life-changing reforms that are just on the horizon.”