Change the rules rally. Image source: Matt Hrkac via Wikimedia Commons
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of Australian construction workers stopped working to support CFMEU. In capital cities members from the CFMEU rallied against the federal government’s decision to appoint administration for the union.
The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) arranges protection rights for construction workers and often supports other unions in doing so.
The Australian government had to have the Coalition pass new laws to be able to force administration onto the Australian union.
The legislation allowed the Fair Work Commission to appoint an administrator.
Mark Irving, a law barrister, has been appointed the administrator.
According to ABC, 270 union volunteer officers and 11 paid officers have been removed from their positions.
This act by the federal government has caused the Labor party to lose support from Australian citizens, specifically those involved in the rallies.
According to ABC, CFMEU national secretary, Zach Smith believes that the government’s “targeted attack on construction workers” undermined the union’s democratic rights and procedural principles.
CFMEU cannot tell members to go on strike while it is in administration, so the individuals chose to strike on their own.
The federal government enforced this act because of believed misconduct by members and leaders in the union.
The allegations against members in the union made headlines roughly a month ago due to a 60 Minutes Australia episode titled, “Union’s response to allegations about the construction industry”.
The episode delved into how bikie gangs and illegal “underworld figures” were associated with the union. John Setka was criticised for his leadership despite his ability to achieve many rights for the workers, such as a 20% pay increase.
John Setka chose to step down from his role as secretary of the CFMEU’s Victorian branch after continuous allegations.
“The ongoing false allegations continually do nothing but harm the work this great union does for its members,” John said.
Previously in 2019, Anthony Albanese moved to expel John Setka based on comments he made against the antiviolence campaigner Rosie Batty.
“The Labor Party … make bold statements about family violence being an unacceptable scourge on our society,” Batty said.
As of Tuesday, the largest rally was 50,000 people in Melbourne, approximately 200 people rallied in Cairns, about 1,000 were expected in Perth, and thousands in Brisbane and Sydney.
The Fair Work Commission stated, employers can sue anyone that causes them financial loss and are required to deduct four hours (minimum) of wages from employees participating in an unprotected industrial action.
