The CFMEU, the MUA and the TCFUA applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to merge as one union on 20 June.
AREEA, on behalf of Australian resources and energy employers, has and will continue to oppose this merger in FWC proceedings and other legal jurisdictions, as appropriate.
At yesterday’s FWC hearing in Sydney it was clear that no union member ballot will be concluded prior to December; the first step towards the so-called merger (About Time – Ensuring Integrity Bill 2017).
AREEA will continue to oppose the proposed amalgamation under current, amended and/or any potential new workplace laws.
The reason AREEA has taken this position is relatively straight forward.
In short, it is not in the nation’s interest to reward two ultra-militant unions that have persistently failed to comply with the nation’s laws, including workplace relations laws.
The CFMEU and the MUA have demonstrated little to no interest in changing their noncompliance with such laws. Their openly militant cultures and attitudes among their ranks are regularly on display for all to see.
Indeed, new ACTU boss Sally McManus delights in siding with hardened, left-wing unions on the issue of noncompliance with the nation’s workplace laws.
Ms McManus, the self-appointed arbitrator of what workplace laws she believes the nation should follow, refers to so-called ‘unjust laws’ and has stated, where in her opinion a law is unjust, she doesn’t think there is a problem breaking it.
Unfortunately for Ms McManus and her hard-left union comrades in Australia, ‘Sally’s law’ does not apply. Fortunately, as cherished by the majority in Australia, the rule of law does.
But here is the rub for Australia; with the ACTU encouraging and CFMEU and MUA engaging in illegal behaviour, this not only impacts on company and Government revenues, it also drives away future investment opportunities in droves.
AREEA is concerned that the combining of the CFMEU and the MUA will translate to millions of dollars of foregone revenue for companies and both State and Federal Governments; in turn affecting all Australians.
If passed as law, the Ensuring Integrity Bill, will introduce a simple and modest requirement of unions seeking to merge, that they must have complied with relevant national laws for a specified time. If passed, this would ensure any union merger is in the national interest, not just groups led by union bosses that incite and/or break Australian laws.
Supporting this Bill is something the Australian parliament can do to stand-up to bullying behaviour by introducing a disincentive to break such laws.
Those employees and employers whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the lawless behaviour of union bosses will watch its development closely.
The passage of this Bill would send a reassuring signal to people who have been harmed by bullying, harassment and intimidation tactics, that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in Australia.
Based on their combined track record, having the CFMEU and the MUA possess monopoly union coverage of critical aspects of the resources and energy supply chain, this would most likely translate to millions of dollars of foregone revenue for both State and Federal Governments.
Illegal industrial action can and has caused project delays ranging from between $1 to $10 million dollars per day on significant resource sector projects.
In closing, there should be no mistake, should the merger proceed monies from international capital markets destined for Australia will be diverted elsewhere.
For further information on why Australians should care about this, an opinion piece published yesterday can be accessed here.
Full media release, plus contacts details here.
