Tuesday, October 27, 2015

CFMEU, Textile union in merger talks

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia have confirmed that they have been in negotiations over a proposed merger for the past several months.

"We want our members' future to be in the best possible union – one that is strong and effective," TCFUA National Secretary Michele O'Neil said.

"The CFMEU is a great union. We have chosen to enter into discussions with them because they are a union that campaigns for jobs as well as for workers' rights and conditions."

CFMEU National Secretary Michael O'Connor said the TCFUA was the right fit for the CFMEU.

"The TCFUA is a campaigning union. It has campaigned around protecting and advancing the interests of some of the most vulnerable people in the community, particularly outworkers.

"They are a progressive union that supports policies designed to build a better, fairer and more progressive country," Michael O'Connor said.

Michele O'Neil said she believed a merge was the right thing for the future of the union.

"Our union has a long, proud 130 year history of being forward looking and fighting for our members.

"The world of work is changing – industries, the labour market and the nature of work are all changing and unions have to evolve too.

"Any proposed merge would be put to a vote of TCFUA members. Once endorsed by the union membership, the unions would then proceed to meet requirements under the relevant industrial legislation."

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