Malcolm Turnbull: unions eye ‘opportunity’ with new PM

The unions have asked for a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull, and see his elevation as an ‘opportunity’.

President of the ACTU Ged Kearney has congratulated Malcolm Turnbull on becoming new PM.

Unions have reached out to Malcolm Turnbull seeking a meeting with the new Prime Minister and declaring his leadership an “opportunity”.

In a letter sent today, the ACTU also put Mr Turnbull on notice about union campaigns against changes to penalty rates, “halting” the China free trade agreement, and “ending” the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption.

“Congratulations on your election as Leader of the Liberal Party and on becoming the Prime Minister of Australia,” the letter signed by ACTU president Ged Kearney and ACTU secretary Dave Oliver states.

“The advent of your leadership is an opportunity to repair the damage done, to halt further damage, and to develop a positive agenda for Australia’s future.

“We welcome your promise to be an ‘open government’.”

The ACTU requested a meeting with Mr Turnbull, to “discuss your commitment” to “halting the passage of free trade agreements that clearly trade away the interests of Australian workers and our sovereign rights” and “protecting our rights at work and moving to stop the attacks on penalty rates, the minimum wage and other rights such as paid parental leave”.

The letter also alerted Mr Turnbull to the unions’ concerns around demise of shipbuilding and steel manufacturing and the seemingly intractable commonwealth public service pay freeze and industrial relations dispute.

A handful of tweets and the occasional meme have emerged from the unions since Mr Turnbull seized the leadership but as reported in The Australian today, the labour movement has been mulling a change of strategy after Mr Abbott, the bete noir of the labour movement and the target of millions in campaign spending was ousted by his party.