Federal government to introduce legislation allowing CFMEU split, with union described as ‘dysfunctional’

The Federal government will introduce legislation to parliament paving the way for a potential split in the CFMEU, which could further fuel tensions between Labor and some of the union’s vocal top brass.

The move comes a week after CFMEU Victorian secretary John Setka launched a campaign against the AFL, criticising the league for hiring the former boss of the now defunct building watchdog as its head of umpiring.

It also follows demands from Independent senator Jacqui Lambie earlier this year for the government and the Greens to support female members of the CFMEU, and allow them to vote to hive off their branches of the union over concerns around attitudes to women.

The bill will give members of the CFMEU’s manufacturing division the power to break away, if a ballot of members backs such a proposal.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said it afforded manufacturing division members the same opportunity provided to the union’s former mining division, which voted to demerge under legislation passed by the previous Coalition government.

“We will provide the opportunity for members of the manufacturing division to vote on their future, because the status quo is dysfunctional and cannot continue,” Mr Burke said in a statement.

“Our laws will do what the Coalition’s previous laws should have.

“The members in the manufacturing decision include workers in largely feminised industries like textiles — and it’s not hard to see why those members might want to vote to leave.”

#Federal #government #introduce #legislation #allowing #CFMEU #split #union #dysfunctional

Leave a Comment