Maritime Union Joins CFMEU in Legal Battle Against Imposed Administration

The MUA says any criminal elements of the CFMEU should have been dealt with by relevant authorities instead of administration being imposed on the union.

Members of Victoria Police stand outside the CFMEU Office in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 21, 2021. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) will join the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) in a High Court challenge against the federal government for placing the CFMEU into administration.

The construction union was placed into administration on Aug. 23 following a string of controversies, including alleged links to organised crime and bikie groups.

As Labor distanced itself from the CFMEU and laws were passed in parliament to help facilitate action against the group, 270 mostly voluntary union officers were removed from their positions.

The MUA released a statement on Sept. 5 saying the union condemned any involvement with crime in unions but said any concerns should have been dealt with by relevant authorities instead of placing the organisation into administration.

“The MUA has already highlighted the disastrous impact of the administration on the progress of EBAs that were on foot and the green light it has sent to bad and abusive employers who treat construction workers as an expendable resource in unsafe workplaces,” the statement said.

MUA leadership also noted in a meeting that the laws passed through parliament had “robbed construction workers of an effective union” and shelved the democratic principles of presumption of innocence and due process.

The MUA said its backing of the CFMEU’s campaign against administration was intended to restore the organisation and also ensure similar sanctions would not be placed on unions.

“Our division remains deeply concerned by the legislative precedent established by the federal government to remove trade union rights on the basis of untested media allegations,” the statement read.

“We are also concerned by the near certainty that similar future legislation will be used by governments of either stripe against other militant blue-collar unions, including the MUA.”

The CFMEU launched its legal battle on Sept. 3.

Concerns around criminal involvement in the construction sector have loomed large for the government, particularly in recent months.

In August, the Victorian government cracked down on bikies and members of organised crime groups by introducing legislation to prevent them from gathering at Victorian worksites.

The proposed Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Bill also prohibits the public wearing of club logos and signage.

“Police will be able to charge people if they are a current member of a proscribed criminal organisation if they enter a Victorian worksite,” Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said.

The CFMEU is currently under the administration of Victorian barrister Mark Irving KC.