A High Court challenge launched by ousted leaders of the CFMEU construction division's Queensland branch seeks an urgent hearing to deal with claims the Albanese Government's administration scheme is unconstitutional and intended to gag the division in the lead-up to the next federal election.
FWC general manager Murray Furlong has withdrawn his Federal Court application to put the CFMEU's construction and general division into administration, after the Albanese Government passed legislation to serve the same purpose.
The TWU's dysfunctional Victoria/Tasmania branch has been "disbanded" after an investigation led by a former judge confirmed "serious" operational and cultural problems.
Newly-installed CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC has told members that "militancy in accordance with the [Fair Work] Act" is not unlawful and that the union will not make political donations or take "positions" at ALP conferences while he is in charge.
A Melbourne rally in support of the CFMEU's construction division heard today that "three or four" legal challenges at federal and state level are expected against laws putting its branches into administration, as a part of a multi-year campaign.
After a hard-fought battle, a mining union has today won an authorisation to negotiate a multi-employer agreement with three underground black coal mines operated by major resource companies Peabody, Ulan and Whitehaven, but Delta has escaped its clutches.
The scheme of administration for the CFMEU's construction division and branches, in place from today, immediately dismisses most officeholders, but allows some national, WA branch and ACT branch officials to keep their jobs during Mark Irving KC's supervision of the union.
The administrator-designate of the CFMEU's construction division and branches, Mark Irving KC, has given a written commitment to act against crime and corruption by employers as well as unions and their officials.
The House of Representative has this evening passed the Albanese Government's legislation to put the CFMEU's construction division and branches into administration, accepting the amendments won by the Opposition in the Senate.
The FWC has late today declined to expedite Transgrid's application for an intractable bargaining application against the ETU, after the power company last week won a two-month suspension of the union's protected action, but lost its bid to block an order for production of documents.
