Labor suspends CFMEU construction division from state branches
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The news: Labor has suspended the CFMEU's construction division from the party's branches in response to allegations the union has been infiltrated by underworld figures.
The context: In a statement, ALP's national secretary Paul Erickson said the party's national executive met on Thursday and unanimously resolved to suspend the CFMEU construction division's affiliation to the NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmanian branches of the party.
Labor said it will not accept any affiliation fees or political donations from the branches of the CFMEU for the period of the suspension.
Nine newspapers and 60 Minutes have over the past week unearthed a number of credible allegations against the union including that organised crime has infiltrated a number of its branches.
The union's Victorian boss John Setka quit ahead of the revelations, and the state branch was placed into administration.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is undertaking a review of all enterprise agreements made by the construction division's Victorian branch, while federal Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke has written to Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw to request the agency investigate the allegations and "work cooperatively" with state police.
What they said: "The ALP National Executive met today and took action in response to extensive reporting concerning the alleged conduct of the construction division of the CFMEU and a number of its officials and delegates," Erickson said.
"The number one job of any union and its officials is to look after its members. The reported behaviour is the complete opposite of this.
"The National Executive has unanimously resolved to suspend the CFMEU Construction Division’s affiliation to the New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmanian branches of the ALP. This suspension will remain in place until further notice.
"For the duration of the suspension, the branches of the CFMEU that have been suspended will be excluded from all rights ordinarily afforded to an affiliated union under Labor’s National Constitution and the rules of the ALP state branches.
"The Labor Party will not levy or accept any affiliation fees from these branches of the CFMEU for the period of the suspension, and no political donations from these branches will be accepted by the ALP or any of its state and territory branches."
The sources: ALP national executive, SMH
