The Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia was an Australian trade union covering workers in the construction industry.
53-588: It was originally established as the Australian District of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners , initially forming part of the English trade union, with a carpenters' union having been active as early as the 1840s. It was first federally registered under that name in 1911. In 1922, it was renamed the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of Australia , when it absorbed many members from
106-596: A broader scale emerged again. The federal Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners sought to expand its coverage to workers across the entire building industry, and changed its name to the Building Workers' Industrial Union , with a number of state-level unions merging into the union. In the same year, the New South Wales branch affiliated with the Australian Labor Party for the first time, breaking from
159-505: A new enterprise agreement to apply to BHP Coal's operations at various mines, including the Saraji coal mine . For the purpose of supporting or advancing their claims, employees of BHP Coal took protected industrial action in the form of work stoppages and overtime bans. There was a seven-day work stoppage between 15 and 22 February 2012. During this stoppage, members of the CFMEU who were employed at
212-533: A union under the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners name in 1952. The union was described by The Canberra Times in 1957 as "one of the most militant elements in the building trades' group of unions". In the late 1950s, the union supported exchanging preferences between the Labor Party and Communist Party, opposed nuclear weapons being based in Australia, and supported closer relations between Australia and
265-698: The ABCC ) in 2005. It had a wide range of powers, including compelling testimony under oath, with penalties of up to $ 22,000 for individuals and $ 110,000 for corporations and unions apply for breaches of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 . The ABCC was abolished in 2012 by the Gillard government and was replaced by the Fair Work Building and Construction . In 2015 the Abbott government attempted to reinstate
318-665: The Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers The union established a branch in New York City in 1867. In 1870, a second branch was opened in New York, plus new branches in St Louis and Chicago , followed in 1871 by branches in Cleveland and Fall River, Massachusetts . It recruited principally from recent immigrants from the UK, although by the end of the century, most of its members had been born in
371-668: The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and CFMEU entered into merger talks to create 'Australia's most powerful union'. On 29 February 2016 at the MUA national conference, delegates voted unanimously in favour of negotiations for a merger with the CFMEU. In August 2017, the Turnbull government introduced tough new laws targeting the CFMEU, with broad powers to deregister unions, disqualify officials and block unions from merging if they repeatedly breach industrial laws. The proposed law failed to pass
424-606: The National Press Club in Australia that a 40 percent tax on excess profits would raise the billions of dollars to build social and affordable housing. In July 2024, a day after John Setka resigned as secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian division, a joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald , The Age , 60 Minutes , and the Australian Financial Review alleged serious corruption within
477-555: The Soviet Union . The BWIU eventually won federal re-registration in September 1962. The industrial registrar noted that the union had kept their much of their membership and their identity throughout the long period of deregistration. The re-registration resulted in a renewed competition for membership with the rival Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, which had benefited from their lengthy federal deregistration. In later years,
530-575: The United States , Australia , and Canada . The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America took over its U.S. branches in 1913, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners took over its Australian branches in 1917. By 1892, the union had 37,588 members, and by 1900 it had 65,000. It merged with or absorbed a number of smaller unions including the Carpenters of Dublin ,
583-551: The ABCC, but the legislation failed to pass the two houses of Parliament. A further attempt to pass the legislation was unsuccessfully made by the Turnbull government in March 2016. After the two failed attempts to reintroduce the ABCC, in December 2016 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the double dissolution 2016 federal election . Following the election, the reelected Turnbull government
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#1732863310788636-669: The ACTU suspended its affiliation with the CFMEU's construction division in some states and the construction division's affiliation with some Labor state branches was suspended. In August 2024, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus placed all of the CFMEU's construction and general divisions under administration with around 270 officials being told to vacate their offices. The CFMEU is structured into four divisions, each operating largely autonomously. Each division has its own discrete set of rules. Members of divisions are also divided into either districts or branches. Elections for office positions within
689-587: The Australian Timber Workers Union. In late 1990 a ballot was conducted by members of the Australian Timber Workers Union and the Pulp and Paper Workers Federation of Australia endorsing the amalgamation of both Unions to form the Australian Timber and Allied Industries Union. Another ballot was conducted in mid-1991 on the amalgamation between the Australian Timber and Allied Industries Union and
742-555: The Australian workforce, with combined assets of $ 310 million and annual revenue of approximately $ 146 million. In July 2024, The Age , The Sydney Morning Herald , 60 Minutes and the Australian Financial Review published allegations of corruption within the Construction Division of the CFMEU's Victorian Branch. After the allegations were made, the CFMEU's Victorian Branch was placed under independent administration,
795-687: The Building Workers Industrial Union. This endorsement supported the first stage in the development of what is now the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The Forest and Furnishing Products Division represents 20,000 members nationally. In March 2018 (after amalgamating with the TCFUA), CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division became the CFMEU Manufacturing Division. In October 2024, an application to demerge
848-636: The Building and Construction Industry (commonly known as the Cole Royal Commission ). The commission and its findings were largely condemned by the Labor Party and the Greens which argued that the terms of reference were too narrow. The CFMEU asserted that the purpose of the commission was a "witch-hunt" to reduce the power of the CFMEU rather than to investigate crime. The General and Construction Division of
901-638: The CFMEU General and Construction Division has an estimated 5,000 members and the Victorian Branch around 9,500. In August 2010, the CFMEU donated over $ 1.2 million to political activist group GetUp! to pay for TV airtime for a women's rights ad-spot condemning Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party . In the 2013 Election , the CFMEU donated $ 50,000 to the Greens party in the ACT . In Western Australia
954-607: The CFMEU and its constituent branches are affiliated with the Right Faction of the WA Labor Party; "Progressive Labor" alongside the AWU, SDA, TWU and related groupings. In 2019, the construction division donated $ 100,000 to the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season recovery effort. In July 2023, CFMEU announced a campaign for a super profits tax to address Australia's affordable housing crisis, with National Secretary Zach Smith telling
1007-534: The CFMEU was also indefinitely suspended from some Labor state branches. The CFMMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division was first registered as a Federal Organisation 21 August 1907, as the Federated Sawmill, Timber-yard and Woodworkers Employees Association of Australasia. The Union's name was changed in 1913 to the Amalgamated Timber Workers Union of Australia, and again in 1918 to
1060-419: The CFMEU, such as criminals and outlaw motorcycle club members being parachuted into the union. As a result of these allegations, the Construction division of the CFMEU in some states was placed under external administration. The Victorian Branch was placed under independent administration and the ACTU suspended its affiliation with the CFMEU's construction division in some states. The Construction division of
1113-582: The CFMMEU. The division is now a separate organisation, the Mining and Energy Union (MEU), with the remainder of the CFMMEU changing its name to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union. The new Mining and Energy Union commenced on 1 December 2023. The Maritime Union of Australia Division consists of the amalgamated Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). As of 2017, the division represented 16,000 workers associated with Australian ports. In September 2019,
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#17328633107881166-783: The Carpenteres of Cork , the Mersey Ship Joiners and other small unions in Britain and Ireland in the 1890s. In 1911, it merged with the Associated Carpenters and Joiners of Scotland , while in 1918 the Amalgamated Union of Cabinetmakers joined the union, which renamed itself as the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners . In 1921, the union merged with the General Union of Carpenters and Joiners , forming
1219-662: The Carpenters' and Joiners' historical non-affiliation. The union suffered a setback in 1944 when the amalgamation of the Queensland state Carpenters' and Joiners' with Painters' and Decorators' Union and the Queensland branch of the Builders Labourers Federation to form a Queensland state branch of the BWIU was blocked in court after a challenge from the Australian Workers' Union and other rival unions. A second attempt
1272-625: The Construction Forestry & Mining Employees Union in 1992, which in turn became the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union later that year. Notable people associated with the union included Alfred Bennett , Pat Clancy , Peter Cook , Roger Degen , Jack Ferguson , Edward Greaves , Kate Lundy , Fred Newton , David Parker and Merv Toms . Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners ( ASC&J )
1325-520: The Department of Primary Industries. With the absorption of the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association of Australasia (FEDFA) which had coverage of crane drivers, plant operators, and other construction workers, the Construction and General Division has moved closer to fulfilling the policy objective of creating a single industry union for construction workers. The CFMEU is one of
1378-680: The Federated Saw Mill, Timber Yard and General Wood Workers Employees' Association changed its name to the Amalgamated Timber Workers' Union of Australia. The former union had been registered federally in 1907 and had registered branches in Victoria, Adelaide, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania. Although the organisation was deregistered in 1918 its members formed a new union, the Australian Timber Workers' Union,
1431-699: The MUA division announced that it would go on strike during the Global Climate Strike on September 20, being "the first known instance of workers taking industrial action to attend the rallies". In the 2018 Victorian Election , the Maritime Union of Australia Division donated an unknown amount to the Victorian Socialists campaign. In 2001, the Howard government set up the Royal Commission into
1484-585: The Miners Federation) which had a continuous history dating back to 1915. Predecessors to the ACSEF had existed on and off since the 1850s. Industries covered by the Mining and Energy Division included the coal industry, coal ports, the metalliferous mining industry, electric power generation, oil and gas and the small coke industry. In June 2023, the Mining and Energy Division, led by Tony Maher, voted to withdraw from
1537-566: The Pulp & Paper Workers' Federation of Australia to form the Australian Timber & Allied Industries Union. Later in the year amalgamation with the Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia created the ATAIU & BWIU Amalgamated Union. Further amalgamations eventually saw this organisation become part of the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union in 1993. In late 2015,
1590-451: The Saraji mine, including Henk Doevendans, participated in protests beside the road leading into the mine property. Standing behind barriers BHP Coal had erected at the side of the road, the protesters held up signs which the CFMEU had provided and waved the signs at those who were driving into the mine. The signs were directly or indirectly critical of BHP Coal and of those who were driving into
1643-627: The Senate. The Fair Work Commission approved the merger in March 2018 of the CFMEU, MUA and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA). The merger had been opposed by business groups, including Master Builders Australia, and by the federal government. In November 2018, the Australian Mines and Metals Association appealed to the Federal Court of Australia against the merger. The appeal
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1696-548: The United Brotherhood. The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in each Parliamentary election from 1906 onwards. Construction Forestry Mining %26 Energy Union The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union ( CFMEU ) is Australia's largest union in the construction , forestry , maritime , textile , clothing and footwear production industries. The CFMEU has offices in all capital cities in Australia and in many major regional centres with
1749-584: The United States had 3,011 members. The United Brotherhood argued that the local branches of the ASC&;J should merge into the United Brotherhood. In 1903, a committee chaired by Adolph Strasser proposed the two unions merge on an equal basis; this was supported by the ASC&J, but rejected by the United Brotherhood. In 1912, the AFL ordered that the ASC&J accept the United Brotherhood's term; when it would not,
1802-474: The United States. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America was founded in 1881, and initially, the two unions co-operated. In 1890, the ASC&J was admitted to the American Federation of Labor (AFL). However, the United Brotherhood grew as it involved itself in industrial disputes, while the ASC&J focused on providing welfare benefits to members. By 1900, the ASC&J in
1855-470: The collapsing Australian Society of Progressive Carpenters and Joiners . Discussions about merging the various building industry unions had begun by the 1930s, and in 1934, the New South Wales state carpenters' and bricklayers' unions merged as the Building Workers' Industrial Union, with approaches also being made to the plasterers', painters' and labourers' unions. In 1943, the issue of amalgamation on
1908-528: The construction process. Members also work in brick, tile and pottery manufacturing and in Queensland, the union covers furnishing trades as there is no formal Forestry Division in the State, due to the Australian Workers' Union 's historical coverage of this industry. The Queensland Branch does, however have a presence in Queensland's forestry sector with CFMEU members employed by the State Government working for
1961-496: The federation suspended the British union. The following year, the ASC&J agreed that the United Brotherhood would have jurisdiction over its members in trade matters, while the ASC&J would retain its existence and provide welfare benefits to its members. This arrangement endured until 1923, when the United Brotherhood claimed that the ASC&J branches were seeking to regain their independence. The large majority of ASC&J members accepted offers to take up full membership of
2014-439: The late 1980s the BWIU increased its coverage to include other construction workers such as steel fixers, concreters, construction labourers and trades assistants following the de-registration of the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF). The division also has members working off-site in manufacturing workplaces such as shopfitting workshops, joinery shops and other establishments involved in the pre-fabrication of materials used in
2067-427: The manufacturing division of the CFMEU was submitted to the Fair Work Commission by division secretary Michael O'Connor. In a media statement released on 9 October 2024, Mr O'Connor stated “There is absolutely no benefit to our members of the Manufacturing Division remaining within the CFMEU. We are a union of honest, hardworking unionists who deserve better than being associated with the CFMEU Construction Division”. In
2120-452: The mine. On four occasions over three days, Doevendans held up a sign that read: "No principles Scabs No guts." Some employees of BHP Coal complained to management about the scabs sign. Following some interactions with management, Doevendans' employment with BHP was terminated. On appeal to the High Court of Australia , it was held that the dismissal of Doevendans was permissible under the Fair Work Act 2009 . The federal division of
2173-424: The most powerful unions in the Labor Left faction of the Australian Labor Party . The Construction Division is often associated with the left faction of the Australian labour movement , but during the 2010 Federal election the CFMEU and AMWU donated a total of $ 60,000 to the Greens . Each State division operates with autonomy, which results in differing services being offered to members. The NSW Branch of
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2226-427: The national office of the union being in Melbourne. Before the 2018 merger, the CFMEU had an estimated 120,000 members and employed around 400 full-time staff and officials . In March 2018, a two-year long process ended resulting in a merger between the old CFMEU, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia . The new CFMEU had a membership of approximately 144,000, 1% of
2279-531: The organisation, for which the term of office is four years, are predominantly conducted by the AEC. The Mining and Energy Division, however, holds exemptions from having their elections conducted by the AEC and from the postal ballot provisions under the RO Act. The supreme governing body is the National Conference, which consists of members of each divisional executive. There is also a national executive, National Executive Committee, Divisional Conferences and Divisional Executives. The Construction and General Division
2332-409: The same statement, they proposed a new name of the de-amalgamated union called the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU). As of 1 December 2023, the Mining and Energy Division no longer exists. It consisted of a number of unions which had amalgamated. The largest union to contribute to the formation of the division was the Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation (ACSEF) (often known as
2385-406: The same year. The new union extended coverage to workers in box and case factories, saw makers' shops, joiners ' workshops, carpenters , implement workers and wood-working machinists . In 1940 the union filed an application and succeeded in extending its coverage to most workers employed in the timber and wood industry including cabinet makers and furniture factories. In 1991 it amalgamated with
2438-413: The union clashed heavily with the Builders Labourers Federation , with the unions once described as "foremost enemies". In 1991, the union merged with the Australian Timber and Allied Industries Union , itself a recent amalgamation of the Australian Timber Workers Union and the Pulp and Paper Workers Federation of Australia , to form the "ATAIU & BWIU Amalgamated Union". That union then merged into
2491-413: The union stopped some corruption within the union. Justice Cole found 392 cases of unlawful conduct; 98 cases were passed on to prosecution authorities by the Commonwealth Attorney-General , of which 26 were considered breaches of criminal law. As a result of the commission's findings the Howard government established the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (commonly known as
2544-458: The union was deregistered by the Commonwealth Arbitration Court in retribution for the Victorian branch's decision to order strike action regarding a claim that had been rejected by the court. Several attempts at re-registration were refused by the Court over the next several years. A federal executive continued to operate despite the deregistration, and the various branches continued operating at state level. A conservative splinter group re-registered
2597-402: Was a New Model Trade Union in the 1860s in the United Kingdom , representing carpenters and joiners . The formation of the Society was spurred by the Stonemason's strike, 1859 , which succeeded in winning a nine-hour day. In 1860, a number of small societies formed the Amalgamated. Robert Applegarth was the general secretary from 1862 to 1871. The union also established branches in
2650-410: Was formed in the early 1990s with the creation of the national CFMEU. The creation of a single building union had been a policy objective of various building unions for decades with records showing the Queensland Branch of the Operative Painters and Decorators Union (OPDU) carried resolutions calling for a single industry union to be created as early as the 1920s. The rationale behind this policy position
2703-448: Was made later that year to merely rename the state Carpenters' and Joiners' Union as the BWIU, as had occurred federally, but was also blocked in court; the state union also lost on appeal the next year. The New South Wales branch was headed by Communist leadership through much of World War II , and faced an ongoing dispute over their coverage on the wharves with the newer and more conservative rival Ship Joiners' Society . In August 1948,
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#17328633107882756-432: Was successful in reinstating the ABCC with the vote of Pauline Hanson's One Nation , the Nick Xenophon Team and Senator Derryn Hinch . Under WorkChoices , situations where industrial action could take place were reduced. The CFMEU and workers had to prove a workplace was unsafe to put a stop to work on a site which has not happened to date. During 2011 and 2012, BHP Coal and its employees were negotiating about
2809-517: Was the view that members would be better represented by a larger industry-based union rather than the traditional craft unions. The largest amalgamating union, the Building Workers' Industrial Union (BWIU) was itself the result of numerous amalgamations over several decades between 1946 and 1992. The coverage of the BWIU included numerous craft unions representing building tradespeople including bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, tilers, stonemasons and various skilled non-trades construction workers. In
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