The HSU has removed Victorian No. 1 branch secretary Diana Asmar from its national executive until the FWC concludes an investigation into her conduct, but says she is refusing to stand aside from her branch leadership role.
A notable difference between the federal legislation putting the CFMEU's construction division into administration and the FWC general manager's court application is that the former takes control of all state and territory branches, according to labour law academic Anthony Forsyth.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has this morning introduced legislation empowering him to put the CFMEU's construction and general division and its branches in the hands of an administrator.
An IR legal expert predicts the Federal Court case seeking to put the CFMEU construction division's national office and four branches into administration will not be required if federal legislation to be introduced this week mirrors a NSW bill.
NSW IR Minister Sophie Cotsis has told Parliament a bill to place the CFMEU construction and general division's State branch into administration for five years "strikes the balance" between not interfering in unions' important role and stamping out "corruption and gross misconduct".
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has joined the HSU national executive in calling for the secretary of the union's Victoria No 1 branch, Diana Asmar, to stand aside pending the outcome of a FWC investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
The High Court has granted the ACCC special leave to challenge the full Federal Court's quashing of a finding that the CFMEU's construction division induced and had knowing involvement in major building company J Hutchinson's unlawful boycott of a non-union waterproofing subcontractor.
Efforts to install an administrator in the CFMEU's construction division branches have hit further speed humps in the NSW Industrial Court today, with counsel for the union claiming the Minns Government's application contains "fairly significant defects" that need to be corrected before the case can proceed.
If the FWC grants the SDA a first-of-its-kind supported bargaining authorisation targeting SA's McDonald's franchisees, the union says it will seek to lift pay, boost job security and get rid of an "outrageous" rostering practice.
