City
Epaper

Thousands of trade workers join strikes over Australian government's union takeover

By IANS | Updated: August 27, 2024 11:50 IST

Canberra, Aug 27 Tens of thousands of trade workers have walked off job sites across Australia in protest ...

Open in App

Canberra, Aug 27 Tens of thousands of trade workers have walked off job sites across Australia in protest against the federal government's takeover of the construction union.

Members of the Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) as well as the electrical, manufacturing, and plumbers' unions stopped work in major cities on Tuesday and joined rallies supporting the CFMEU, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Friday, the government placed all branches of the construction arm of the CFMEU into administration, effective immediately, removing 270 union officers from volunteer positions and 11 from paid jobs amid allegations of widespread corruption and links to organized crime within the union.

It came after parliament earlier in August passed legislation allowing the government to take control of the construction union for a minimum of three years.

On Tuesday, workers gathered in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns in protest against the takeover, putting building projects at a standstill.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned there would be consequences for workers who participated in unprotected industrial action, saying that the government's actions were in the interests of all trade unionists.

"You need to have unions in the building industry, it's a dangerous industry," Albanese, who leads the union-linked Labor Party, said.

"What we want to do, though, is to make sure that their union is free of corruption."

Addressing protesters in Melbourne, Troy Gray, secretary of the Electrical Trade Unions in the state of Victoria, said that unions were considering legal challenges to the government's legislation.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the government expected some blowback from the union laws but called for protesters to remain peaceful and calm.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIndia resumes extradition to US after 17 years, sends Indian citizen wanted in fatal car crash case

LifestyleMaha Ashtami 2025: Significance of Durga Ashtami, Kanya Pujan Rituals and Auspicious Timings on the 8th Day of Navratri

InternationalMexico urges US 'consideration' over new vehicle tariffs

InternationalCanada welcomes President Trump's historic new Middle East peace plan: PM Mark Carney

NationalPM Modi to participate in Durga Puja celebrations at CR Park’s Kali Mandir

International Realted Stories

InternationalHamdan bin Zayed receives Abu Dhabi Ports delegation; reviews infrastructure project updates

InternationalUS government shutdown likely as political impasse continues

InternationalTrump announces 20-point peace plan to end war in Gaza

InternationalTheyab bin Tahnoon unveils Dubai Miracle Garden Season 14 with host of new attractions

InternationalEight nations back Trump's Gaza peace plan