It's the labour movement equivalent of the corporate skunkworks: a new union within the Australian Workers Union that doesn't look anything like its distinctly un-hip parent.
The AWU kicks off its biennial conference today, with new national secretary Daniel Walton seeking to revive falling membership and protect jobs in key industry segments rather than pursue mergers with other unions. Meanwhile, the FWC has been questioning the "integrity" of the union’s reported membership numbers for the five years to 2014.
CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch secretary John Setka has threatened to withdraw support for the Andrews Labor State Government in protest at ministers "promoting and supporting" major construction company Grocon.
Protracted negotiations over oil and gas agreements in the Bass Strait have moved a step closer to arbitration following the Victorian Government's application to terminate bargaining in the face of looming strike action.
The MUA's national council has stared down Coalition threats to stymie its merger with the CFMEU, endorsing the plan to create an "activist, campaigning" combined entity by the middle of next year.
The AMWU is seeking to change its rules so it can recruit independent contractors, while it is "re-thinking" how to tailor its membership packages to meet their needs.
The AMWU will gather in Sydney next week to consider major structural changes and a renewed membership drive targeting motor mechanics and those in manufacturing front office roles.
AGL has sought to increase pressure on unions over stalled bargaining at Victoria's Loy Yang power station and coal mine by applying for the Fair Work Commission to terminate the existing agreement.
The CFMEU has lost an appeal to have secondary boycott proceedings over alleged bans on Boral delayed until after the hearing of blackmail charges against union leaders John Setka and Shaun Reardon.
