TWU disbanded, Mem Suleyman axed after probe

Mem Suleyman might have been cleared of serious misconduct allegations, but he still lost his ‘dysfunctional’ union and his job.

Former TWU state secretary Mem Suleyman.

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Victoria’s Transport Workers Union has been disbanded and suspended state secretary Mem Suleyman has been axed after an internal probe uncovered “significant operational and cultural” issues.

The dramatic intervention by the union’s national leadership to dismantle the powerful industrial and political organisation was taken despite the investigation clearing Mr Suleyman of ­serious sexual harassment and bullying allegations.

The TWU said on Tuesday that the elected position of Mr Suleyman and another official “no longer exist and neither are anticipated to have an ongoing role with the union”.

The TWU said the investigation by retired judge Frank Marks had exposed “significant operations and cultural” problems in the Port Melbourne-based union, including what it described as “unfounded” allegations of misconduct against Mr Suleyman.

TWU national president Tim Dawson said the decision had “not been taken lightly”.

“However, we believe it is necessary to urgently address the systemic issues identified in Mr Marks’ report and to refocus our efforts on what truly matters – fighting for the rights and interests of our members,” he said.

“Mr Marks’ investigation uncovered serious operational and cultural problems within the branch. Given these issues, ­national council has formed the view that the national committee of management should move to immediately oversee governance while a long-term solution is prepared.

“The national committee of management is deeply concerned that Mem Suleyman suffered unfounded allegations against him by figures within the branch. These allegations were not made on behalf of any complainant and the branch committee of management had opened no investigation into them.”

Mr Suleyman did not respond to questions on Tuesday. But last week, he told The Australian that he “strongly denied” the ­allegation and would fight to clear his name.

The decision to disband the Victorian branch means the elected officials are sacked and out of a job.

The governance arrangement imposed by the union’s ­national committee of management is designated “interim” but it could be indefinite as no ­defined period has been set.

It is not clear whether the sacked officials, including Mr Suleyman, will be eligible to contest elections to re-seek their ­positions at a later date.

Under the union rules, members of a disbanded branch can be added to an existing branch, so the Victorian and Tasmanian members will become part of the “NSW/Qld/Vic/Tas interim governance branch”.

The findings of the investigation into the Victorian branch have been sent to the Fair Work Commission but the union ­refused to release the report, citing the need to protect the wellbeing and privacy of witnesses and to ensure procedural fairness.