MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA
PADDY CRUMLIN
MUA NATIONAL SECRETARY
CFMEU NATIONAL PRESIDENT
STATEMENT
1 SEPTEMBER 2024
Federal Government Administration is failing Construction Division members, officials and staff
The extraordinary action of the Federal Government to place the CFMEU’s Construction Division into administration is ill-advised and will continue to have dire consequences for paid staff, officials and members of the union about whom no allegations have been made whatsoever.
Amongst the 270 officials dismissed on the first day of the Federal Government’s intervention, many were full-time paid officials who performed essential work keeping the Union working on behalf of members. Many of these sacked officials have had no allegations made about them and are lifelong, devoted workplace advocates. Through their summary dismissal, these sacked officials have been robbed of the very workplace procedural fairness that they have committed themselves to securing for workers under their stewardship.
Special provisions also apply which prohibit these sacked officials from taking up paid employment in any other Union, making it impossible for them to earn a living in line with their skills and training as industrial advocates.
So far there has been no action to replace the leadership and day to day management of crucial Construction Division functions, including site safety management and workplace organising and signing off on EBAs. This in turn has emboldened employers to try to walk away from Enterprise Agreements which were on the cusp of being finalised. Clearly this is because they see an opportunity to water down pay, safety standards and workplace conditions now that the Union’s core role as an uncompromising industrial and safety advocate for construction workers has been undermined by political, legislative and media attacks.
As President of the federated CFMEU union, representing all of its divisions, I am deeply concerned about the practical impact of the administration on the Construction Division’s members, as well as the absence of dignity, procedural fairness, and humanity for sacked officials.
Before administration, the Maritime and Construction Divisions worked closely together on the delivery of many worker protections, organising efforts, WH&S initiatives and other campaigns and actions on the ground. This cooperation is central to the Union’s amalgamation; it improves the collective strength, effectiveness and productivity of the Union for members in all divisions. All members of the federated Union, regardless of division, have voluntarily paid for and participated where possible in these cooperative efforts but the administration has severed these connections between the divisions.
Like on the waterfront or at sea, safety on the job for construction workers requires vigilance on a site by site, floor by floor basis with constant monitoring and review to ensure best practice is being adhered to so as to mitigate the risk of injury and in the worst case, death on the job.
Safety in these dangerous workplaces isn’t delivered with a poster or a policy document; it’s enforced by worker-led vigilance against cost-cutting, unreasonable schedules, and fatigue. This can only be achieved by a strong construction union with effective, democratic, grassroots governance structures.
The Federal Government’s forced administration process has robbed members of the Construction Division of these effective and fundamental protections while the terms of the administration have delivered a political victory to the opposition in the LNP for their long-standing campaigns and attacks against organised labour.
Regardless of this political own goal, the administration of the Union needs to immediately replicate the high standards and protections for Construction Division members that members deserve. If the administration takes over the role and responsibilities of the Division, they are obligated to continue delivering these services to the same high standards established by the CFMEU throughout its history.
