A construction industry redundancy fund paid hardship payments to striking workers in 2012 despite objections from the scheme's employer directors that it was possibly illegal and morally wrong, the Heydon Royal Commission has heard.
Former HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson accused the Heydon Royal Commission of ambushing her and requested legal representation this morning after she was questioned over a $50,000 payment to her former husband and her previous evidence to the inquiry.
In another instance of the FWBC's tougher stance under Nigel Hadgkiss, the inspectorate has begun Federal Court action against 23 workers accused of taking unprotected industrial action at the $1.8 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital project.
Former HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson will return to the witness box at the Heydon Royal Commission on Wednesday to face further questions from counsel assisting the inquiry.
In what the ACTU has dubbed a political witch hunt, the federal Attorney-General's department is questioning government agencies over their dealings with unions over the last ten years.
The Heydon Royal Commission is turning its sights on union "relevant entities" - with slush funds "of particular interest" - and has called for submissions on their establishment, funding, conduct and regulation.
The ACTU has produced a “bargaining toolkit” to help unions to pursue claims to offset Federal Budget measures, including the $7 GP co-payment, a freeze on child care rebates and the re-indexation of fuel excise.
Evidence to be presented to the Heydon Royal Commission by former CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch official Brian Fitzpatrick "reveals a troubling state of lawlessness" in the branch and the union that manifests in their preparedness to go to "war" against companies that incur their displeasure, according to its counsel assisting.
An investigation commissioned by CFMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor has cleared NSW construction and general division branch officials of going soft on building companies associated with Sydney business identity George Alex and of bullying two organisers who raised the allegations.
Boral chief executive Mike Kane has told the Heydon Royal Commission that his company is contemplating new legal action against its competitors, customers and the CFMEU under competition law, labelling them as conspirators in a union campaign to deprive it of its Melbourne market share after it refused to cut off supplies to Grocon.
