BWI condemns Australian government's move to administer CFMEU
Workers have the right to form unions and to elect their own representatives. This is a human right under international law, protected by Convention 87 of the International Labour Organisation. Australia has ratified this Convention, yet the Australian Government's actions in dismissing the elected officials of the CFMEU Construction Division clearly breach it's terms.
The Australian government says that it has acted following media allegations of criminal activity involving the union. The Building and Wood Workers’ International ( BWI) opposes any criminal infiltration of trade unions; workers are entitled unions free of criminality and corruption. But media allegations are not proof, and persons facing charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Any allegations of criminality should be prosecuted by police dealt and dealt with by the courts. Until such time as courts have dealt with charges, individuals and organisations are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
This important principle has been abandoned by legislation overriding the democratic rights of members and imposing an administrator on the CFMEU. We note that the Australian Government has stated that corporations may also be involved in criminal activity ; yet no similar legislation similar has been passed to deal with employers.
BWI calls on the Australian government to take immediate steps to return the CFMEU Construction Division to the control of members and to commit to the repeal of this anti-worker legislation.
BWI stands in solidarity with the CFMEU and Australia's construction workers.