Construction Showdown: Union's Reform Push

The article details a proposed restructuring of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) in Australia, orchestrated by administrator Mick O’Connor, following a period of internal conflict and government intervention. The plan aims to consolidate power within the union leadership, centralizing control and diminishing the influence of rank-and-file members. Key changes involve streamlining the union's structure, reducing the number of elected officials and increasing the power of appointed positions. This includes empowering the administrator to veto decisions made by elected officials and giving him greater control over union finances. The proposal also seeks to strengthen the role of site delegates, but with the explicit aim of ensuring their alignment with the administrator's directives. The article argues that this restructuring is a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and independent action within the union. By ensuring that all levels of the union leadership, from branch leaders to site delegates, are loyal to the administrator, the proposal effectively transforms the union into a tool for enforcing the will of the ruling elite, rather than representing the interests of its members. It criticizes the lack of democratic input in the process, with members having limited say in the restructuring that will significantly impact their representation and power within the union. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/12/qxct-m12.html