The MUA's quadrennial elections have produced new branch secretaries in two states while long-serving national leader Paddy Crumlin is back for another term, but a low voter turnout has sparked a call for the polls to be conducted in future by the AEC rather than internally.
Long-serving ETU national secretary Allen Hicks had decided against recontesting the position and has nominated assistant national secretary Michael Wright as his successor.
Long-serving MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin is understood to be well ahead of a rank-and-file challenger in the union's quadrennial elections, which has had problems with misspelt ballot papers and a "whistle-blower complaint" to the FWC's general manager.
An industry group is hoping to press ahead with a pioneering multi-employer agreement for heating, ventilation and air conditioning businesses in NSW, after the AMWU provided reassurance that it remains committed to negotiations derailed by a contested union election.
Long-serving MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin is facing a rank-and-file challenger in the union's quadrennial elections, which will also have contested polls for State leadership positions in Queensland and Victoria.
Incoming CFMMEU construction and general division national secretary Zachary (Zach) Smith will take over from the long-serving Dave Noonan in April, after 15 years with the union and serving as leader and assistant leader of the ACT branch for the past three years.
Newly-elected NTEU national general secretary Damien Cahill says the union will renew its campaign for increased public funding for universities and push for a parliamentary inquiry into the sector's "corporatised " governance.
The NTEU is set for a contested election for its key national full-time positions, against a backdrop of major university job losses in recent years, widespread investigations into wage theft and grassroots agitation over the extent of casual employment.
The CFMMEU's mining and energy division has launched two-pronged legal action in the Federal Court, seeking to overturn the broader union's recent rule changes and to secure an inquiry into the election of former MUA WA branch leader Christy Cain as national secretary.
