Fuming unions threaten Labor election revolt

Hostile trade unions have declared war against the Albanese government as retribution for placing the scandal-plagued CFMEU into forced administration, threatening to withdraw future political donations and support for Labor candidates ahead of the federal election.

Representing more than 250,000 workers across 23 separate unions, including the Electrical Trades Union, the bodies will gather at the national Trade Unions for Democracy Summit on December 9.

Members will consider creating large-scale “political, industry and social campaigns” in support of “union democracy”, and consider proposals on “supporting union political candidates”.

In a major fissure of Australia’s union movement, attendees will also consider withdrawing from the powerful Labor-affiliated Australian Council of Trade Unions led by secretary Sally McManus, who has backed the administration, with the NBIGU flagging the creation of an “alternate democratic union body”.

In response an ACTU spokesperson said the Australian union movement was “focused on preventing Peter Dutton from taking away the life-changing pay rises and new rights that working people have won”.

Following a meeting on Wednesday, the National Building Industry Group Unions (NBIGU) continued to condemn the Albanese government for denying the CFMEU “basic natural justice” following allegations of standover tactics, bullying and criminal infiltration of its construction sector.

As a result the construction and general division of the union has been placed into forced administration, with the Fair Work Ombudsman launching 42 investigations into officials accused of alleged illegal conduct.

“Trial by parliament and media is not how we do things in Australia,” the group said in a statement.

“Against this backdrop of anti-union attitudes, this meeting resolves to collectively fight against these underhanded attacks and to work to protect our union democracy.”

The statement coincided with Wednesday’s highly publicised National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) convened by Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt which was set to address challenges in the industry, including culture following the CFMEU fall out.

In a statement released after the meeting, worker bodies, business groups, and the government committed to further meetings over the comming months, in order to develop a Building and Construction Industry Blueprint.

The document will set out roles and responsibilities between state, territory and federal governments, and other worker groups and regulatory bodies.

Mr Watt, who is also the chair of the NCIF, spoke of the importance of “cooperation, not conflict”.

“Working together to address the persistent challenges facing this industry is key to ensuring it is an industry that works for everyone,” Minister Watt said.

“The blueprint will focus on creating lasting and tangible change within the industry.”