CFMEU to consolidate power by absorbing textile workers’ union

The militant national construction union is poised with a deal to drive thousands of textile workers to it.

CFMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor.

The militant national construction union is poised with a deal to drive thousands of textile workers to it just weeks after unveiling a merger with the maritime union.

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union national secretary Michael O’Connor is in ­advanced talks to merge with Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia national secretary Mich­ele O’Neil.

Ms O’Neil yesterday told The Australian the union planned to add its 6000 members to the CFMEU roll of about 100,000 in a move supported by rank-and-file members and elected leaders.

The merger is expected take place between the TCFUA and the CFMEU’s forestry division, led by Mr O’Connor.

Moves to amalgamate the TCFUA with another union began more than a year ago with a view to more effective campaigning, Ms O’Neil said.

“We considered a number of unions (to merge with) and they were all very positive about the proposal, but we decided the CFMEU was the best fit ... they are a union that campaigns and fights for workers’ jobs as well as to ­improve conditions.”

The CFMEU’s latest round of consolidation could foreshadow further amalgamation of unions, Australian Workers Union nat­ional secretary Scott McDine said yesterday. “There is a likelihood within the next five years there will more than likely be a consolidation of unions; personally, I think it’s inevitable. It is logical, it’s about consolidation of resources,” he said.

Mr McDine would not be drawn on whether or not the AWU was looking for merger partners.

It is understood the textiles union approached the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the AWU and the Transport Workers Union about a possible merger before the CFMEU’s forestry division agreed to a deal.

If the merger is approved in a ballot, the TCFUA will wind down a formal alliance it previously had with the right-wing TWU in NSW.

The TCFUA has lobbied state and federal governments to purchase Australian-made clothing, with the industry under intense pressure as trade tariffs have been reduced and with the cost of local production increasing, although it tends to keep a low profile

Mr O’Connor yesterday said he was pleased to be in talks with the TCFUA.

“(It) has campaigned around protecting some of the most vulnerable people in the community, particularly outworkers — they’re a progressive union that supports policies designed to build a better, fairer and more progressive country,” he said.

About 38,000 Australians were employed by textiles and clothing manufacturers, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported last year, a fall of 4000 jobs in two years.

“This is not driven by crisis; we could have continued as a stand-alone union, but the leadership believes we need to look at being part of a larger union where we could combine our resources and campaigning,” Ms O’Neil.

“Our membership was smaller than what it was previously, but they don’t resign because they are leaving the union, the numbers are changing because the industry is smaller than what it once was.”

Earlier this month, Mr O’Connor unveiled a planned merger with the MUA, which has sig­nificant wealth and leverage over economically important cargo ports but a declining membership base, subject to a ballot at the wharfies’ national council in ­February.