20170622-Ferguson-De

The Australian, Australia 23 Jun 2017, by Ewin Hannan

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Ferguson demands Labor cut CFMEU EXCLUSIVE of the Builders Labourers Feder- ation, the truth is the construc- EWIN HANNAN tion division of the CFMEU is WORKPLACE EDITOR the BLF by another name.” Mr Ferguson’s call sparked a Former ACTU president Martin furious response from the leader Ferguson has called on the Labor of the Victorian union move- Party to cut ties with the ment, Trades Hall Council sec- CFMEU’s construction division retary Luke Hilakari. in Victoria and expel its leader, “I don’t think Martin Fergus- John Setka, while backing on is fit to lick the construction proposed laws to subject the boots of John Setka,” he said. union’s proposed merger with “There is no bigger Judas than the maritime union to a new Martin Ferguson going around. public interest test. This guy earns a skill by selling After Malcolm Turnbull and out to the mining and energy in- senior ministers used question dustry after being resources min- time yesterday to ramp up pres- ister. And he has the gall to sure on Bill Shorten over Labor’s question John Setka’s integrity. I links to the Construction For- don’t think this yellow-bellied estry Mining and Energy Union, snake can get any lower.” Employment Minister Michael- Mr Ferguson said the conduct ia Cash last night wrote to ACTU of Mr Setka sent “a worrying secretary Sally McManus asking message to the broader her to publicly condemn Mr Continued on Page 5 Setka’s threats against building watchdog inspectors. THE SKETCH P5 Mr Ferguson told The Austra- lian that Mr Setka should be kicked out of the ALP. “I think it’s time that the Labor Party had a hard look at whether or not Mr Setka is a fit and proper person who should be entitled to party member- ship,” Mr Ferguson said. “The real question for the Labor Party is whether or not the Martin Ferguson CFMEU’s building division in Victoria should be entitled to affiliate because clearly it’s not a union that any decent worker can be proud of. “I think it’s time for the party to act on Bob Hawke’s comments some time ago to dis- affiliate the building and construction division of the CFMEU in Victoria. And more broadly when I think back to the history The Australian, Australia 23 Jun 2017, by Ewin Hannan

Ferguson demands Labor cut CFMEU Continued from Page 1 clubs to ensure their “kids will be Knott said the ACTU, CFMEU Australian community given the ashamed of who their parents are”. and MUA “brazenly assert the changing nature of the Australian But Mr Turnbull and senior gov- right to disregard Australia’s in- economy and our requirement to ernment ministers used question dustrial laws”. “Clearly a merger of be competitive internationally to time to attack Mr Shorten over Mr two lawless and militant unions is try and create jobs for a lot of Setka’s comments, claiming the not in the public interest,” he said. Australian workers who earn far CFMEU delivered Mr Shorten the Master Builders Association less than many of the construction Labor leadership. chief executive Denita Wawn said workers in the inner city areas of “What John Setka threatened Mr Setka’s outburst was “a public Melbourne.” to do was take thugs from his demonstration of the contempt The government confirmed it union and follow hardworking the CFMEU has for community intended to press ahead with pro- public servants around, follow standards of behaviour.” posed legislation subjecting union them home, threaten them with mergers to a public interest test. violence, threaten them in front of The Coalition intends to introduce their children, threaten them at a bill in parliament this year. their clubs,’’ Mr Turnbull said. Employers groups said yester- In her letter to Ms McManus, day they hoped the laws would be Senator Cash sought assurances passed before a proposed merger that his comments did not was completed between the represent the views of the wider CFMEU and the Maritime Union union movement. Earlier, the of Australia. MUA national sec- ACTU, for the second day, de- Ferguson retary Paddy Crumlin hopes the clined to comment on Mr Setka’s “super-union” could be operation- comments at the Tuesday rally. al by next month but a plebiscite of Senator Cash said last night members has yet to be held. that the ACTU and the CFMEU Senior officials were tight- should expel Mr Setka. lipped yesterday but it is under- “The time has come for the stood they hope to complete the union movement to demonstrate merger by the end of the year. leadership and expel those within One of the criteria under the their ranks who routinely engage proposed public interest test in intimation and thuggery to- would be a union’s “history of wards other Australians,’’ Senator compliance with workplace laws”, Cash said. “John Setka’s threaten- casting doubt on the capability of ing and menacing comments to the MUA and CFMEU to get the mums, dads and their families are merger approved, given their the final straw.” record of civil law breaches. Mr Australian Industry Group Ferguson said he supported head Innes Willox backed the changing federal workplace laws public interest test for union merg- to ensure the proposed merger was ers. “Given that unions are given subject to a “national interest test”. many rights under Australia’s Mr Shorten has repudiated Mr workplace relations system, the Setka’s threat this week to reveal community has a legitimate the home addresses of Australian interest in ensuring that union Building & Construction Commis- amalgamations are not against the sion inspectors, and visit their local public interest,’’ he said. shopping centres and football Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve