Unions chief’s’ ‘safety concerns’ amid stoush
Written by admin on July 18, 2024
Peak unions body boss Sally McManus says concerns for her personal safety have been raised with her, following her absolute condemnation of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) following allegations of its criminal links, and union thuggery.
Speaking to ABC Radio National on Thursday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus was asked by host Patricia Karvelas: “You’re taking on a powerful force, are you concerned about your personal safety?”
Ms McManus said people had shared concerns, but that she would personally “stand up against this behaviour”.
“Well, a few people have raised that with me. I’ll tell you this. We will do what’s necessary. I will do what’s necessary,” she said.
“The union leadership will do what’s necessary, we will not flinch.”
Ms McManus continued defending claims the ACTU had any awareness of alleged corruption occurring at the union prior to claims being made in Nine media reports.
She said the union peak body had a history of holding the CFMEU to account, referencing her calls for CFMEU Victorian boss John Setka to stand down in 2019.
Ms McManus said Mr Setka, who resigned following claims the union had handed plum jobs to bikies and criminals, and allowed them to infiltrate government-funded construction sites, most likely “hates her guts”.
“People have got to understand what happened five years ago, the ACTU set a standard for behaviour, and we said it wasn’t tenable for John Setka to be a state secretary, after he was found guilty of DV related charges. We stood up to him,” she said.
“John Setka hates our guts, hates my guts, hates (ACTU president Michelle O’Neil’s) guts, the ACTU as well.”
She said since the incident, the CFMEU has been “totally isolated from us” since 2019, and described Mr Setka as someone who “did not uphold union principles,” and “someone who pursued vengeance”.
“These last five years, his union has been totally isolated from us. He went about then getting rid of anyone else who stood up to him and said ‘This does not align with union principles,’ she said.
“I would not be welcome in the front door of the office, let alone on a building site, for the last five years.
“Because Setka’s union has been isolated from the ACTU, we had no idea of this alleged infiltration by criminal elements.”
The Labor national executive will also meet on Thursday, with both NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt flagging party officials will likely push to ban donations from the union, with state premiers already ceasing contributions in Victoria, NSW, and Queensland.
“We’re not taking any CFMEU money anymore. The evidence has come out. It’s there. We’re putting a stop on it,” Mr Shorten told 7.30 on Wednesday.
“I fully expect the national executive to make sure that there is no more donations received from the CFMEU until their house is cleaned.”
Mr Watts said he’d also support the move.
“I would certainly expect the national executive of the Labor Party to be making moves in that direction this morning and that would have my full support,” he told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.
“The ALP has an interest many making sure that donations we receive aren’t tainted from infiltration from criminal gangs which seems to be occurring here so I would firmly support that action by the national executive if that’s what they do this morning.”
On Wednesday, Industrial Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government and the Fair Work Commission would appoint an independent administrator to investigate the union, and committed to changing legislation if necessary.
However he stopped short of deregistering the union – something that’s been criticised by the Opposition.
The allegations will also be investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
