September 8, 2022
The Mining and Energy Union remains determined to give members a say on their future in the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union despite a Federal Court decision today disallowing an initial application for a demerger ballot on technical grounds.
General President Tony Maher said the MEU intends to lodge a revised application to the Fair Work Commission for a member vote on whether to remain part of the amalgamated CFMMEU or pursue an independent future.
“Today’s decision by the Federal Court is disappointing however it doesn’t dim our determination to give our members a say,” said Mr Maher.
“It is a judgement on the technical issue of which amalgamation date can be used in our application to the Fair Work Commission for a member ballot.
“Our Central Council is committed to pursuing all legal options so that members can vote and that’s what we’ll do.
“The question I most commonly hear from members is: ‘what’s taking so long?’ The unfortunate answer is that we are battling on-going legal interference from the construction-dominated national office of the CFMMEU.
“If they cared about the views of Mining and Energy members within the union, they would get out of the way of a democratic vote. That would be the best and quickest way to resolve this issue.
“We will continue to work through all legal options available to us while focusing entirely on the considerable challenges our members face in mining and energy workplaces.”