CFMEU, MUA to merge to form powerful union

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has announced plans to merge with the Maritime Union of Australia.

MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has announced plans to merge with the Maritime Union of Australia.

Both parties, the most militant unions in the country unveiled the deal today after CFMEU national officials Michael O’Connor, Dave Noonan, and Tony Maher met today in Sydney with the MUA’s National Council.

All branches of the CFMEU are expected to be incorporated to create the super-union after a ballot of the MUA membership at the union’s national conference in February.

The two country’s two most powerful left-wing, blue-collar unions said it was “an historic moment for trade unionism”.

The merger will bolster the fortunes of the construction body, which has spent millions fighting the trade union royal commission and litigation in the courts brought by Fair Work Building and Construction.

A partnership between the two will combine the CFMEU’s numbers - totalling more than 100,000 - with the relatively small but wealthy maritime union.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said the potential merger would create Australia’s most powerful union, which would better serve the membership of both unions.

“We have been presented with a monumental opportunity to represent working men and women in the Australian workplace without losing the long and proud history of our union,” Mr Crumlin said.

“The MUA is no stranger to mergers and since the Waterside Workers’ Federation and the Seaman’s Union of Australia amalgamated in 1993 the MUA today is here to stay and can only grow in strength in this new union.

“This is a huge decision that hasn’t been taken lightly, but discussions to merge with the like-minded CFMEU will help us fight the ever-pervasive anti-worker and anti-union attacks on workers and their entitlements and job security.

“We will continue to work through the issues with our members to ensure any merger is in their absolute best interest and have their total support.

CFMEU national secretary Michael O’Connor said his union would welcome a merger with the MUA.

“The opportunity we’ve been presented with will bring great strength to the national and international union movement,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The MUA offers us a chance to strengthen our politics within the CFMEU, because the struggle isn’t just about increasing wages, or creating a safe work site, there is also a bigger and important political struggle.

“We’re very conscious of the MUA’s identity and we want to make it clear that this is a merger of equals.

“This move will be hugely beneficial to not just the members of the MUA and CFMEU but will lead the way for all working men and women.”