Change or block ‘unjust’ China trade deal, unions tell MPs

Union bosses want Labor to force changes to foreign worker provisions in the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement or block it.

The nation’s most powerful union bosses are demanding Labor force changes to foreign worker provisions in the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement or block the deal entirely in a direct threat to the future of the nation’s biggest trade pact.

A letter to Labor MPs from eight of the nation’s biggest union chiefs foreshadows an urgency motion at next month’s ALP ­national conference on the deal, which it described as an “unjust, exploitative and anti-labour’’ agreement. The letter, obtained by The Australian, has been signed by the national secretaries of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the CFMEU, the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, the Electrical Trades Union, the Australian Workers Union, the National Union of Workers, the Transport Workers Union and Maritime Workers Union.

The move raises the stakes as the Greens are already opposing the deal and without Labor the government would need the crossbench to pass it. As the deal has ­already been signed, changes will not be possible for three years, when a review is triggered.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb has dismissed concerns about the foreign worker provisions in the deal and says at all times Australian workers have priority.

Mr Robb said under the infrastructure provisions that sat beside ChAFTA — which mirrored those Labor introduced — local skilled workers came first.

Overseas workers could be utilised only if a skills shortage could be demonstrated. Labor has repeatedly said it wants to ensure a high-quality trade agreement that will deliver market access for Australian exporters and support and create Australian jobs.

A parliamentary committee will review the deal.

Labor has said it will look closely at the impact of the agreement on the Australian labour market. The letter comes as the CFMEU has used a polling company to make automated calls to voters in marginal seats attacking the deal over its labour market provisions.

Last night the union made 240,000 calls in eight marginal electorates warning that the trade deal would allow Chinese companies investing more than $150 million to bring in foreign workers without first offering jobs to Australians.

Mr Robb accused Labor of using the CFMEU as a political megaphone to frighten people about the China FTA.

He said the campaign was both xenophobic and based on utter falsehoods.

“We are seeing harassing automated phone calls and push polling based on deceptions across the country,’’ he said.

CFMEU national secretary ­Michael O’Connor said the union was putting its point on behalf of no one but its members. It was not xenophobic and had a proven record of standing up against racism, including helping indigenous workers and foreign workers who were being exploited.

At the centre of the unions’ concerns are Investment Facilitation Agreement provisions on Chinese projects over $150m which provide an opportunity to use Chinese workers under temporary visa programs.

The unions argue that Chinese involvement of as low as 15 per cent opens up the possibility of ­negotiations between Chinese project proponents and the government.

Issues that can be negotiated include how many visas can be granted under an IFA as well as the occupations and skill levels which can be filled with such workers; whether there should be labour market testing of minimum wages, English language proficiency and qualifications.